Venezuela's digital economy grew 84% through September

The digital economy in Venezuela grew 84% between January and September 2026, according to estimates from the Venezuelan Chamber of Electronic Commerce (Cavecom-e) reported by Banca y Negocios. The outlet also reported that the sector could move as much as $80 billion a year, driven by commercial transactions on digital platforms and social networks that operate partly outside formal records.

This momentum reflects a shift in payment and intermediation patterns in the country, where electronic tools have gained ground over cash and traditional channels. According to data published by Banca y Negocios, the use of pago móvil reached a pace of 8,500 transactions per minute, with an estimated volume that could exceed $70 billion by the end of 2026.

The expansion of the sector is taking place against a backdrop of economic recovery. According to figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Venezuela's real GDP grew 4.0% in 2023, 5.3% in 2024 and 1.5% in 2025. For the following years, the IMF projects GDP growth of 4.0% in 2026 and 6.0% in 2027, although these last two figures are estimates and projections by the lender, not observed data.

The 84% increase reported for the first three quarters of 2026 follows a 125% expansion recorded in 2025, according to Cavecom-e estimates as reported by the source. Given the volume of transactions reached, lawmakers are debating the need for a regulatory framework that would organize the sector, keep pace with the evolution of new forms of financing and facilitate the formalization of e-commerce.