Blue dollar in Bahía Blanca: how the exchange rates opened in February

The Argentine foreign exchange market maintains its characteristic volatility, with quotes that vary significantly depending on the type of transaction. In Bahía Blanca, as in the rest of the country, these movements directly impact the financial decisions of investors and citizens seeking to protect their savings.

The official market versus the parallel exchange rate

In early February, the official dollar at Banco Nación was set at $1410 for buying and $1460 for selling. This exchange rate, controlled by the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA), operates during banking hours and closes daily at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the blue dollar—traded in the informal market in Bahía Blanca and other cities—was at $1480 for buying and $1500 for selling. Unlike the official market, this parallel rate has no officially defined hours, although it typically concludes its activity between 3 and 4 p.m.

The gap between both quotes reflects market expectations regarding the stability of the local currency. Those seeking to access the blue dollar in areas like Bahía Blanca need approximately $150,000 to buy 100 dollars at the informal market rate.

Currency investment alternatives

The MEP dollar (Electronic Payment Market) was at $1466.70, while the CCL dollar (Contado con Liquidación) reached $1516.94. These instruments operate through the buying and selling of shares or debt securities in pesos that are simultaneously quoted in international markets.

For credit card transactions abroad, the card dollar was at $1898, calculated based on the retail quote plus 30% perception for Income Tax, since the PAIS tax no longer applies.

Market indicators and cryptocurrencies

The country risk, according to JP Morgan’s indicator, reached 563 points in early February, reflecting investors’ risk perception of the Argentine economy. Simultaneously, Bitcoin is currently trading at $66.54K, consolidating as the most important cryptocurrency today.

Monetary policy and future outlook

The BCRA announced the start of a new phase in its monetary program beginning January 1, 2026, implementing a band float regime. This system allows the upper and lower limits of the exchange rate band to evolve monthly based on inflation data reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec).

Additionally, since April 2025, banked money has no limit for dollar purchases, although a cap of US$100 per month remains for in-person cash transactions. The BCRA will also initiate a program to accumulate international reserves in line with money demand and market liquidity.

December 2025 inflation closed at 2.8%, with the annual figure reaching 31.5%—the lowest in eight years—according to Indec data. This relative price stabilization continues to be the framework within which blue dollar quotes and other exchange rates fluctuate in markets like Bahía Blanca.