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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is set to meet with Argentina’s President Javier Milei in October to discuss the role of cryptocurrency in shaping the country’s economy.
The meeting, scheduled for October 19, will take place during the Tech Forum Argentina, where Hoskinson will engage in discussions about the potential of blockchain technology in transforming economic and social systems.
The talks will cover a range of topics, including Argentina’s approach to technology and its potential adoption of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Cardano Increases Ties With Argentina
The upcoming meeting builds on Cardano’s already strong ties with Argentina.
The Cardano Foundation has been active in the country, establishing multiple partnerships to promote local blockchain adoption.
In June 2024, the foundation signed another agreement to further integrate blockchain technology in Argentina.
Notably, Bitcoin has had a long-standing presence in Argentina, with one of the first major crypto companies, BitPay, developing its wallet Copay there in 2012.
President Milei, known for his pro-cryptocurrency stance, has publicly endorsed Cardano on social media.
In May 2024, he reposted a Cardano-themed message from Dario Epstein and has since shared several posts from Hoskinson himself.
Milei confirmed his participation in the Tech Forum Argentina through a social media post on September 17.
The news coincides with Cardano’s progress toward achieving decentralized governance under the Voltaire era of its roadmap.
On September 1, Cardano underwent its first hard fork in this era, introducing community-run governance mechanisms.
Another much-anticipated upgrade within the network is the Leios upgrade, which according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson will make the platform “faster than Solana without losing decentralization.”
The final Cardano Constitution, which will formalize these onchain voting features, is expected to be approved in December 2024.
Argentina to Include Blockchain in High School Curricula
In August, the Ministry of Education of the City of Buenos Aires partnered with the ETH Kipu Foundation to introduce Ethereum and blockchain technology into the high school curriculum.
The initiative, which positions Argentina ahead of its Latin American peers, aims to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in the emerging tech economy.
In addition to the in-school programs, the partnership includes the development of an online Solidity course, a programming language used to develop Ethereum applications.
The course will be available to 500 students aged 18 and older, providing them with the tools to become active participants in the Ethereum development community.
Earlier this year, Milei decided to remove the proposed crypto tax law from a controversial omnibus reform package in a bid to expedite the approval of a set of reforms.
The bill, known as the “Ley Ómnibus” or the “Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines,” initially included provisions that required taxpayers to declare ownership of previously undisclosed assets, including cryptocurrencies.
However, Minister of Interior Guillermo Francos announced the removal of these clauses, citing the need for rapid economic development and legislative efficiency as the driving factors behind the decision.