USD Business Account in Bolivia: Options and BCB Rules 2026

Key takeaways

Bolivia ended the fixed rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar, in place since 2011, and moved to a flexible regime starting at 9.73 on 29 June 2026 under Ministerial Resolution 245.
Since BCB Board Resolution 142/2026 of 24 September 2026, the official rate is the volume-weighted median of banks' dollar purchases from clients, published each business day at 23:30.
As reported by El Deber in April 2026, many Bolivian banks did not open new dollar accounts, and where they did, movements could be limited to $100 a week.
BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 of 25 June 2024 lifted the 2020 ban and allowed electronic payment channels and instruments to be used to buy and sell virtual assets.
The BCB states that a virtual asset is not legal tender and that the boliviano is the only legal tender in Bolivia, so no one is obliged to accept USDT as payment.
A USD account abroad in the company's own name lets US buyers pay by ACH or Fedwire and keeps dollars outside the domestic shortage, while bolivianos remain the currency for local transactions.

USD business account options in Bolivia: the short answer

A Bolivian business can hold and receive US dollars in four ways: a dollar account at a Bolivian bank, a USD account with a provider outside Bolivia, a US company with its own account, or digital dollars such as USDT and USDC. Each one became more important after 2023, when a shortage of dollars made it hard for companies to buy dollars or move them out of Bolivian banks.

Two changes now shape the choice. In June 2024 the Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB), the country's central bank, lifted its 2020 ban on crypto assets and allowed electronic payment channels to be used to buy and sell them. In June 2026 the government ended the fixed exchange rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar that had been in place since 2011 and moved to a daily official rate set by the market.

Importers of fuel, machinery, vehicles and consumer goods need dollars to pay suppliers abroad. Exporters of minerals, soy, quinoa and other agricultural products, and software and service firms that bill clients in the United States, need to receive dollars and keep them usable. This guide covers each option, the new exchange regime, providers' own statements about Bolivia, documents, the stablecoin rules and where Helm fits.

The options compared

The table compares the option types. It is not a ranking: many Bolivian trading companies combine a Bolivian bank account for local payments with one dollar account outside the domestic system.

Option	Account name and location	How payers pay it	Main points
Dollar account at a Bolivian bank	Company's own name, bank supervised by ASFI	International wire (SWIFT) through the bank's correspondent	New accounts and withdrawals were limited by banks during the shortage
USD account with a foreign provider	Company's own name or a pooled account, held abroad	ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT, depending on the provider	Provider's country list decides eligibility
US company with a US account	A new US company's name, US bank or fintech	ACH and Fedwire as a US business	Separate company, US tax number and filings
USDT or USDC	Wallet or account with a provider	Stablecoin transfer on a blockchain	Allowed through electronic payment channels since June 2024; not legal tender

Sources: BCB press release CP 35/2024; El Deber, April 2026 (republished by Bolivian Thoughts); providers' own pages. As published on 29 October 2026.

ASFI, the Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero, is the regulator that supervises Bolivian banks. SWIFT is the international network banks use to send cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. ACH is the low-cost US domestic transfer system that US companies use for routine payments, and Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's same-day system for large US dollar payments.

How to choose: a company paid by US buyers gains most from US account details in its own name, because the buyer pays as it would pay any US vendor and the dollars do not depend on a Bolivian bank's dollar liquidity. A company that sells inside Bolivia needs a Bolivian bank for bolivianos. A company already paid in USDT needs a way to convert to dollars in an account in its own name.

Bolivia's new exchange rate regime in 2026

Bolivia kept the boliviano at 6.96 per dollar from 2011. When gas export revenue fell, central bank reserves fell with it: El Observador reports that reserves dropped from about $15,000 million in 2014 to $4,546 million at the end of May 2026. A parallel market emerged from 2023 at rates above the official one, partly fed by cryptocurrency trading.

Date	Measure	What it did
December 2025	Supreme Decree 5503, article 120	Instructed the BCB to adapt and move to a new exchange rate regime
26 June 2026	Ministerial Resolution 245, Ministry of Economy and Public Finance	Established the flexible exchange rate regime
29 June 2026	Start of the new regime	Official reference rate of 9.73 bolivianos per dollar
24 September 2026	BCB Board Resolution 142/2026	Approved the Regulation on Exchange Operations and replaced Resolution 88/2026 of 26 June 2026

Sources: Correo del Sur, 18 December 2025; Los Tiempos and bne IntelliNews, 29 June 2026; BCB Board Resolution 142/2026. As published on 29 October 2026.

How the official rate is now set

Under the regulation approved by Resolution 142/2026, the official exchange rate (tipo de cambio oficial) is calculated each day as the volume-weighted median of the dollar purchases that multiple banks, SME banks and the public bank make from their clients and from the BCB, excluding deals between financial institutions. Banks report their purchases to ASFI by 17:30 each business day. The BCB publishes the rate on its website at 23:30, and it applies the next day. The rate published on Friday applies on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The regulation applies to the public sector, financial institutions authorized by ASFI and private individuals and companies carrying out exchange operations, and makes the official rate the reference for all of them.

For a business, this means two things. The rate at which a bank buys your dollars is now close to the market rate rather than a fixed 6.96. And the rate can move from day to day, so price contracts and invoices with that in mind, and check the BCB's published rate on the day you convert.

Dollar accounts at Bolivian banks

Bolivian banks offer accounts in US dollars, but during the shortage they rationed them. As reported by El Deber in April 2026:

many institutions did not allow new dollar accounts;
where they did, the required initial deposit was $5,000 to $10,000;
movements on existing dollar accounts could be limited to $100 a week, or every two weeks;
some banks had started offering products linked to digital dollars, such as accounts or prepaid cards.

bne IntelliNews reported on 29 June 2026 that, from January 2026, dollar savings of up to $1,000 were being returned to individuals and small businesses, with the measure expected to extend to other savers from July, and that from April 2026 card purchases abroad were allowed at the reference rate instead of the official peg.

Point to confirm with your Bolivian bank	Why it matters
Whether it opens new dollar accounts for companies, and the opening deposit	Practice differed between banks during the shortage
Weekly or monthly limits on dollar withdrawals and transfers	Limits applied to existing accounts in 2026
The rate it uses to buy and sell dollars	Since 29 June 2026 the official rate is set daily
Its correspondent bank and SWIFT code for incoming USD	A payer abroad needs both
Charges for incoming and outgoing transfers	Each bank publishes its own tariff

Sources: El Deber, April 2026 (republished by Bolivian Thoughts); bne IntelliNews, 29 June 2026; BCB Board Resolution 142/2026. As published on 29 October 2026.

The new regime is meant to bring dollars back into the banking system, and the government has said there is now a single exchange rate. Bank practice may change quickly as that happens, so ask your bank for its current terms in writing.

Foreign USD account providers and Bolivia

Many Bolivian companies look for a USD account abroad so that US buyers can pay by ACH or Fedwire. Eligibility is set by each provider. The table records what each provider states on its own pages.

Provider	What its own pages state for Bolivia
Airwallex	Bolivia is not on its list of supported registration locations; unlisted locations cannot be processed
Wise	Bolivia is not on its list of countries where customers can hold money
Wallbit	Its Bolivia page lists US routing and account numbers and 0% fees on ACH and wire deposits, in a comparison dated April 2026
Payoneer	Receiving into a local currency receiving account is free on its fees page, last updated 1 January 2026; withdrawals with conversion 1.2% to 4%
Mercury	Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory

Sources: the providers' own pages, linked below. As published on 29 October 2026.

Before you apply, check three points. First, whether the US details are in your company's own name or belong to a pooled account in the provider's name; a buyer's accounts payable team often needs the beneficiary name to match the invoice. Second, which rails they accept: ACH only, or also Fedwire and SWIFT. Third, whether the provider accepts companies or only individuals, since several consumer apps serve freelancers but not trading companies.

Provider pages used: Airwallex eligible countries, Wise country list, Wallbit Bolivia, Payoneer fees and Mercury eligibility.

Stablecoins in Bolivia: USDT, USDC and Resolution 082/2024

Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value against a currency such as the US dollar; USDT and USDC are the most widely used. In Bolivia they moved from prohibited to permitted in 2024.

The 2020 ban. BCB Board Resolution 144/2020 of 15 December 2020 had prohibited operations with crypto assets.
The 2024 change. BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 of 25 June 2024, announced in press release CP 35/2024 the next day, left Resolution 144/2020 without effect and enabled the use of electronic payment channels and instruments for buying and selling virtual assets.
Supervision. ASFI supervises the means that financial institutions provide for acquiring virtual assets. The Financial Investigations Unit (UIF) applies preventive measures against money laundering and terrorist financing. The BCB coordinated the decision with both, citing GAFILAT's 2024 mutual evaluation, which recommended regulating virtual asset service providers.

Question	What the BCB states
Can a Bolivian company buy or sell USDT through bank payment channels?	Yes, electronic payment channels and instruments may be used for buying and selling virtual assets
Is USDT legal tender?	No. A virtual asset is not legal tender and is not cash; the boliviano is the only legal tender
Must a supplier or customer accept USDT?	No. The public is not obliged to accept virtual assets as payment
Who bears the risk?	Users assume the risks of using and trading virtual assets

Source: Banco Central de Bolivia, press release CP 35/2024 (26 June 2024). As published on 29 October 2026.

GAFILAT is the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America, the regional body that assesses anti-money laundering standards. El Deber reported in April 2026 that merchants and families sending or receiving money abroad widely use USDT, through platforms such as Airtm or Meru. A company that is paid in USDT should keep the invoice, the wallet record and the conversion record together for each payment, because its bank and the tax authority will ask how dollars entered the business.

The US company route and the documents you need

Some Bolivian founders form a US company, usually a limited liability company (LLC) or a Delaware corporation, and open a US account in its name. Mercury requires the company to be formed and registered in the United States or a US territory, with existing or planned US operations, and states that founders do not need to be US citizens or residents. The company needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the US federal tax number for a business. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 state that international applicants may call 267-941-1099, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, or fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471. The US company is a separate legal entity with its own tax filings; take Bolivian and US advice before choosing it.

A Bolivian company opening an account with a bank or a foreign provider needs a company file like the one below.

Document	What it is
Commercial registration	The company's registration with SEPREC, the Servicio Plurinacional de Registro de Comercio
NIT	The Número de Identificación Tributaria, the tax number issued by the Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales
Constitution deed and bylaws	The founding documents of the company, with any amendments
Power of attorney of the legal representative	The notarized document that authorizes a person to act for the company
Identity documents of directors and owners	Cédula de identidad or passport for each signatory and each owner of 25% or more
Proof of address	Of the company's registered office
Description of trade	Main products, buyers, suppliers and expected volumes, with recent invoices or contracts

Typical requirements compiled by the Helm Editorial Team; each bank and provider sets its own list. As published on 29 October 2026.

Foreign providers usually ask for documents in English or with translation. Keep the company name identical across the registration, the NIT and the account application.

Where a Helm USD account fits

Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm provides USD account details in your company's own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments, alongside EUR and GBP details.

For a Bolivian business it fits beside a Bolivian bank account, not instead of it:

Exporters and service firms can give US buyers domestic US payment details and hold the dollars in USD until they need them.
Importers can send international payments to suppliers by SWIFT, or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending.
Companies paid in stablecoins can receive USDC and USDT and convert them to USD inside the account, and keep the conversion record with the invoice.
Local payments in bolivianos still run through a Bolivian bank, because the boliviano is the only legal tender in Bolivia.

Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Trade finance, such as supplier finance, receivables finance and working capital, is arranged case by case. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. For neighboring markets, see our guide to USD business accounts in Peru.

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USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.

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Questions

Can a Bolivian company open a USD account?

Yes. Bolivian banks offer dollar accounts, although during the dollar shortage many did not open new ones and limited movements on existing ones, as reported by El Deber in April 2026. A Bolivian company can also open a USD account abroad with a provider that accepts Bolivian businesses.

Did Bolivia end its fixed exchange rate?

Yes. Under Ministerial Resolution 245, Bolivia moved from the 6.96 peg in place since 2011 to a flexible regime on 29 June 2026, starting at 9.73 bolivianos per dollar. The BCB now publishes an official rate every business day.

How is Bolivia's official exchange rate calculated?

Under BCB Board Resolution 142/2026 of 24 September 2026, it is the volume-weighted median of dollar purchases that banks make from their clients and the BCB, excluding interbank deals. The BCB publishes it at 23:30 each business day and it applies the next day.

Is crypto legal in Bolivia?

Yes, since June 2024. BCB Board Resolution 082/2024 of 25 June 2024 lifted the 2020 ban and allowed electronic payment channels and instruments to be used to buy and sell virtual assets. Virtual assets are not legal tender, and no one is obliged to accept them.

Can Bolivian businesses use USDT?

Bolivian businesses may buy and sell USDT through electronic payment channels under Resolution 082/2024. The boliviano remains the only legal tender, so a supplier or customer can refuse USDT, and users bear the risks of using it.

Can a Bolivian business open an Airwallex or Wise account?

Airwallex does not list Bolivia as a supported registration location, and Wise does not list Bolivia among countries where customers can hold money. Check each provider's page for changes.

Why are dollars hard to get in Bolivia?

Gas export revenue fell and central bank reserves dropped from about $15,000 million in 2014 to $4,546 million at the end of May 2026, as reported by El Observador. Banks rationed dollars, and a parallel market traded above the official rate until the 2026 reform.

Does Helm accept Bolivian companies?

Helm provides USD account details in a company's own name that receive ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments, and lets accounts receive USDC and USDT and convert them to USD. Your account manager confirms your countries and corridors on the first call.

What documents does a Bolivian company need for a USD account?

Banks and providers usually ask for the SEPREC commercial registration, the NIT, the constitution deed and bylaws, the legal representative's power of attorney, identity documents of directors and owners, proof of address and a description of the trade.

References

HelmHelm is a business account for companies that trade internationally: USD, EUR and GBP accounts, international payments, collections and currency exchange, with a named account manager. Questions: [email protected].

This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.

USD business account in Bolivia