Argentina marked a new milestone as Lemon introduced the country’s first Bitcoin-backed Visa credit card.
The card lets users access credit in pesos without selling their Bitcoin. Lemon said the goal is to turn long-term BTC savings into practical, everyday spending power.
Marcelo Cavazzoli, Lemon’s CEO, said the product offers a simple way to obtain credit in pesos. He noted that users do not need a credit history because Bitcoin serves as collateral.
According to a local report, the system requires a deposit of 0.01 BTC, which is equal to roughly $900, and gives users a credit limit of one million pesos.
Notably, the collateral stays untouched during use, meaning the deposited Bitcoin is not sold or converted at any point, keeping the asset intact for long-term savings.
Lemon said the first phase uses fixed limits to keep the product secure and easy to operate. The company plans to add adjustable collateral settings and flexible credit limits in the next stages.
Stablecoin purchases and new feature access
Support for stablecoin-based dollar purchases is also in development. Lemon has confirmed the inclusion of USDC and USDT in the upcoming upgrades.
Users can buy more than 30 cryptocurrencies without purchase fees. This includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other supported assets, but the commission-free policy does not apply to sales or swaps.
Early access to new features is part of the package. Lemon also offers Telegram support and detailed investment reports showing profit and loss performance.
Rootstock is covering the card’s maintenance fee for the first three months. After that period, the fee is scheduled to reach about 7,500 pesos per month, but remains free for users who buy at least $150 of crypto monthly.
Lemon users can transfer BTC from external wallets using Lightning Network, Rootstock, or BNB Chain. They can then spend pesos on routine transactions and earn Bitcoin rewards through the program.
Bitcoin’s growing role in Argentina’s crypto landscape
Analysts say the card could influence Argentina’s broader crypto activity. Bitcoin is already the most held asset on Lemon, which signals demand for tools that connect savings with daily spending.
The Central Bank is studying potential rules for bank-level crypto trading. If approved, the updates would allow traditional banks to buy and sell digital assets under regulated conditions.
According to local reports, the plan would increase access to crypto at the national level by April 2026. The banks would then be in a position to utilize their existing customer networks to disseminate supported digital assets.
President of Bitcoin Argentina, Manuel Ferrari, opined that the impact will be on the way the regulators define the final rules. He said that the banking system of Argentina has traditionally been under stringent regulation.
Politicians are also focusing on the sector. President Javier Milei and his sister are accused of the failed issuance of the so-called $LIBRA token that investigators claimed resulted in significant losses for major investors.
Despite the uncertainty, adoption is occurring nationwide. Lemon claimed that the market appeal of Bitcoin-based financial products is high because Argentinians are investigating new digital payment methods.