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Venezuela’s Maduro Announces Another Cryptocurrency, Now Gold-Backed

© REUTERS / Marco BelloVenezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reads a document during the event launching the new Venezuelan cryptocurrency "Petro" in Caracas, Venezuela February 20, 2018
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reads a document during the event launching the new Venezuelan cryptocurrency Petro in Caracas, Venezuela February 20, 2018 - Sputnik International
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MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday his government was preparing to launch a new gold-backed cryptocurrency token next week.

"I don’t want to get ahead of things, but we have prepared a surprise, a gold-backed ‘petro,’ which will have the same parameters as the oil-backed ‘petro.’ This topic will be raised next week," he said.

On Tuesday, Venezuela launched the presale of cryptocurrency tokens supported each by a barrel of Venezuelan oil. Maduro has estimated early gains at $735 million.

The cash-strapped nation has been struggling with political and economic fallout of a global slump in oil prices and US sanctions after Washington blocked its investors from buying Venezuelan debt.

The new Venezuelan cryptocurrency the Petro logo is seen as Minister for University Education, Science and Technology Hugbel Roa talks to the media during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, January 31, 2018 - Sputnik International
Venezuela Launches Oil-Backed 'Petro' Cryptocurrency Amid US Sanctions
In December, Maduro announced the idea to create a cryptocurrency, backed by the country's oil reserves to “to advance the country’s monetary sovereignty." The country has allocated five billion barrels of oil for the cryptocurrency, with reported plans to to set the initial price at $60 per one unit of the currency.

Venezuela’s President said earlier that urged members of the regional Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples Trade Treaty to join him in overcoming the “financial blockade” imposed by the US.

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