Ripio is Argentina's largest cryptocurrency exchange and one of Latin America's most established crypto platforms, founded in 2013 in Buenos Aires. Registered with Argentina's CNV (Comisión Nacional de Valores) and operating across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, Ripio offers ARS, BRL, and USD fiat support alongside 50+ cryptocurrencies, crypto loans, and staking products. In Argentina's high-inflation economy where the peso has historically devalued sharply, Ripio has become a critical tool for Argentines preserving wealth through crypto and USD stablecoins.
About Ripio
Founded in 2013 in Buenos Aires by Sebastian Serrano, Ripio (originally BitPagos) began as a Bitcoin payment processor for merchants and evolved into Argentina's comprehensive crypto exchange. The platform pivoted toward retail investors as demand for Bitcoin as an inflation hedge surged among Argentine households facing persistent peso devaluation and capital controls. Ripio received backing from Draper Associates, Digital Currency Group, and other institutional investors, and has since expanded to Brazil and Uruguay.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 (as BitPagos) |
| HQ | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Regulation | CNV registered (Argentina) |
| Listed Coins | 50+ |
| Fiat | ARS, BRL, USD |
| Markets | Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay |
| Products | Trading, loans, staking |
Key Features
ARS Capital Control Navigation
Argentina's history of strict capital controls — limiting USD purchases and international transfers — has made crypto a critical tool for Argentine wealth preservation. Ripio's ARS integration provides Argentines with legal, accessible pathways to Bitcoin and USD stablecoins, effectively functioning as a capital controls bypass through crypto market mechanisms.
Crypto Loans
Ripio offers crypto-backed lending, allowing users to borrow ARS, BRL, or USD against their cryptocurrency holdings without selling — a useful product for Argentine investors who want liquidity without triggering taxable events or losing long-term crypto exposure.
Multi-LatAm Operations
Ripio's presence across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay — with localised fiat support in each market — makes it one of the region's most geographically diversified domestic crypto operators.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Argentina's largest exchange (since 2013)
- CNV registered
- ARS/BRL/USD fiat support
- Crypto loans product
- Multi-country LatAm operations
- Institutional backing (Draper, DCG)
Cons
- ARS extreme devaluation risk
- Argentina's complex capital control environment
- Limited to 50+ coins
- Regional exchange — not global
Summary
Ripio is Argentina's premier crypto exchange, occupying a critical role in one of the world's most crypto-active markets by providing ARS fiat access, CNV compliance, and crypto lending to millions of Argentines using Bitcoin and USDT as inflation hedges. For investors in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay seeking the region's most established regulated exchange, Ripio's decade-long track record and institutional backing make it the strongest domestic choice.