Argentina’s Central Bank to Increase Peso Supply by 5% in 2 Months

The Committee of Monetary Policy (COPOM) of Argentina’s Central Bank (BCRA) has announced it intends to increase the peso's monetary base by 2.5% per month for the next two months on Sept. 18.

“To ensure monetary and financial stability”

The move is meant to ensure monetary and financial stability. The bank believes that the inflation of the Argentine peso caused by depreciation suggests a reduction in real monetary supply. The new exchange rate also lets observers project a real demand for sustained money.

The bank concludes that — given limited liquidity — it is necessary to update the originally established monetary base goals to avoid excessive monetary contraction. 

In the case of September, the variation is considered with respect to the bimonthly goal of July-August, leaving the monetary base objective for the current month at 1,377 billion Argentine pesos ($24.3 billion). The goals will be updated again based on the net exchange operations carried out by the BCRA from the date of publication of the statement.

Liquidity Letters interest rate increase

Furthermore — with the declared intention of guaranteeing the reductive nature of the monetary policy — COPOM decided to undertake a further monetary policy measure. More precisely, it decided to increase the lower limit for the interest rate of the Liquidity Letters (LELIQ) from the current 58% to 78% in September, during the inflationary peak. For October, this limit is set at 68%.

The commission hopes that both measures will allow the country to sustain a positive real interest rate and resume the deflation process from October. Lastly, the announcement also specifies that both the proposals have been unanimously approved by the COPOM members.

“Bitcoin fixes this”

Argentinian Bitcoin (BTC) and open blockchain consultant Camilo Jorajuría de León pointed out the decision of his local central bank in a tweet published on Sept. 19 and commented:

“This is how local politicians steal everyone's future from under their noses. Bitcoin fixes this.”

In August, after the sharp devaluation of the Argentine peso, Bitcoin trading saw a 4% premium in Argentina.

As Cointelegraph reported at the end of July, Morgan Creek Digital Assets co-founder Anthony Pompliano says the European Central Bank’s expected dovish turn will be “rocket fuel” for Bitcoin.