U.S. Attacks Venezuela; Is Crypto the Only Financial Escape?

• The United States has attacked Venezuela and captured President Maduro and his wife.
  
• The escalated conflict has further worsened the country’s hyperinflation amid government uncertainty.
  
• The use of crypto assets in Venezuela climbed to among the top 20 countries globally in 2025.
  

After teasing the invasion of Venezuela in 2025, United States President Donald Trump ordered the onset of a military strike on Friday. Earlier on Saturday, January 3, President Trump announced via Truth Social that the U.S. military had captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. 

Why Did The U.S. Attack Venezuela?

The military invasion of Venezuela by the USA began brewing in 2025. The United States sanctioned Venezuela amid its increased alignment with the BRICS movement, led by China and Russia.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the United States conducted several strikes on Venezuela’s boats linked to drug trafficking through the Atlantic Ocean. However, critics of the U.S. strikes argue that the Trump administration is seeking the vast oil reserves in Venezuela.

Related: How Bitcoin Becomes a Lifeline During Hyperinflation

Meanwhile, President Trump has argued that democratic institutions in Venezuela have crashed. As such, President Maduro has been accused of mingling with elections, suppressing opposition, and controlling the judicial system.

Will the U.S. Invasion of Venezuela Negate Maduro’s Economic Downfall?

The military strike on Venezuela by the United States has coincided with the country’s renewed hyperinflation.  A few weeks before the imminent U.S. strike, it was reported that Venezuela’s money supply (M3) surged at 298% per year.

As such, Venezuela’s inflation surged to over 641% per year in 2025, the highest globally. The economic downturn of Maduro’s presidency since 2013 has largely been described by hyperinflation, with the World Bank reporting a 70% decline in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Related: Venezuela Turns to Crypto-Oil Sales With China to Skirt US Sanctions

As such, the capture of Maduro is potentially an economic hope for the residents of Venezuela. Furthermore, the United States is likely to charge Maduro with drug trafficking among other crimes, thus triggering a regime change.

“Maduro is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country.  And he is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States,” U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio previously noted.

Is Crypto the Only Financial Lifeline?

The collapse of Venezuela’s currency against international currencies has catalyzed the mainstream adoption of crypto during the past few years. According to last year’s Chainalysis report on global crypto adoption, Venezuela ranked 18 globally.

The demand for a reliable currency in Venezuela has pushed more retailers and merchants to use crypto assets. Moreover, the crypto industry counters the issues of Venezuela’s weak currency through stablecoins, Bitcoin, and the altcoin market.

The economic collapse in Venezuela means more local investors are more inclined to use globally accepted assets to navigate U.S. sanctions. Furthermore, the use of crypto assets and protocols, which are decentralized and highly liquid, supersedes the global political influences.

The crypto market, currently valued at over $3 trillion, promises to reduce poverty in Venezuela, especially amid the ongoing war with the United States.