Authorities in Venezuela have granted approval to 16 cryptocurrency exchanges to list the country’s digital currency Petro, Petro Moneda reports.
“The certification of these 16 exchanges is a demonstration of confidence in the system of the Petro, as a cryptocurrency, and will allow liquidity and solid transactional volume,” Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro was quoted as saying at Venezuela Power Expo 2018 in Caracas.
The following platforms have been given the green light: Criptoexchange. Cryptocapital, Asesoría Financiera C.A., Italcambio, Amber Coin, Cave Blockchain, Valoratta Casa de Bolsa, Coinsecure, Critiaechainge, Criptolago, Criptoventraige.C.A., Criptoactivo Menets C.A., Criptoactivo Bancar C.A., Criptomundo Casa de Intercambio C.A., Inversiones Financieras 1444 C.A. and Criptoactivo Criptoes.
The announcement comes days after Venezuelan authorities shut down two cryptocurrency exchanges, ordering them to suspend operations as part of a crackdown against the growing bolivar-to-bitcoin market. On the same day, Venezuela’s Prosecutor General seized 1,382 bank accounts with balances exceeding $10.6 million.
President Nicolas Maduro is claiming that the pre-sale of Petro has raked in $3 billion and a record number of verified purchases.
On February 20, Venezuela formally launched Petro, becoming the first country with its own oil-backed cryptocurrency.
By Jade Olafson