- U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, and officials framed the action as a law-enforcement operation linked to superseding indictments.
- Oil futures fell to about $56.60 per barrel, while Chevron shares jumped roughly 11% on expectations of increased Venezuelan supply.
- Major cryptocurrencies held steady, with Bitcoin and Ethereum each rising about 1% and the broader market cap near $3.2 trillion.
- Observers say sanctions have pushed Venezuela to rely on crypto and stablecoins for trade and everyday payments, creating dual civilian and state-linked uses.
- Federal prosecutors allege a narco-terrorist conspiracy tied to senior Venezuelan officials; experts warn crypto channels could shift quickly if traditional payment routes break down.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, in an operation tied to superseding U.S. indictments that allege drug trafficking and corruption. U.S. officials described the action as a law-enforcement operation, and reports say Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in Manhattan.
WTI crude oil futures fell to about $56.60 per barrel, their lowest since February 2021. At the same time, Chevron shares surged about 11%, a move that financial commentary outlet Kobeissi Letter noted, reflecting expectations U.S. control could unlock more Venezuelan energy output. Crypto markets remained relatively stable, with Bitcoin and Ethereum up roughly 1% and the total crypto market capitalization near $3.2 trillion.
Blockchain intelligence firms and former officials have long alleged that Caracas quietly accumulated Bitcoin and stablecoins through commodity-linked transactions as sanctions tightened. Some estimates peg those holdings at about $60 billion, according to one analysis linked here.
Federal prosecutors allege senior Venezuelan officials used state institutions and the military to traffic large volumes of cocaine into the U.S., as described in the superseding indictment. Experts warn that when traditional trade and payment channels are disrupted, people and networks move faster to alternative ways to send money. As TRM Labs policy head Ari Redbord put it, “Crypto and stablecoins have long played a dual role in Venezuela: they function as an essential financial rail for civilians in a fragile economy, while also offering an alternative settlement channel that state-linked actors and intermediaries can exploit when sanctions constrain access to the formal financial system.”
Some commentators say the capture could revive scrutiny of Venezuela’s state-level crypto use, a point discussed in social posts such as this thread. Redbord also warned that “things move faster and become more fragile” after military action, which could change stablecoin demand, intermediary concentration, and on-chain behavior.
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