Ripio Launches Argentine Peso Stablecoin ‘wARS’ as Part of Real-World Asset Push

Latin American crypto exchange Ripio has launched a new stablecoin pegged to the Argentine peso, marking another step in its effort to bridge traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure.

The token, called wARS, is now live on Ethereum, Coinbase’s Base network, and World Chain, according to local outlet La Nación. With more than 25 million users across the region, Ripio is one of Latin America’s largest crypto platforms.

The new peso-backed stablecoin enables users to send and receive money globally, around the clock, without relying on banks or converting to U.S. dollars. Its debut comes amid a shifting economic backdrop in Argentina, where President Javier Milei’s administration has brought inflation down sharply — from 292% in April 2024 to 31.8% today.

Ripio said it plans to issue additional stablecoins tied to other Latin American currencies, aiming to create a regional network for cross-border payments in local denominations. That could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and eliminate the high costs of traditional intermediaries.

Stablecoins have already found strong traction in countries like Argentina and Brazil, where inflation and currency controls have pushed users toward digital assets as a store of value and payment method.

The rollout of wARS follows Ripio’s earlier introduction of a tokenized sovereign bond, reflecting a broader trend toward real-world asset (RWA) tokenization — the movement to bring traditional instruments such as government debt and fiat currencies onto blockchain rails.