Tether's USDT has played a crucial role in helping Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PdVSA, circumvent international sanctions by serving as a settlement currency for oil transactions. Following the escalation of sanctions in 2020, PdVSA began requiring USDT for export payments to bypass the traditional banking system. Oil export revenues were either directly transferred to designated wallet addresses or converted into USDT through intermediaries. Local economists estimate that approximately 80% of oil revenues are received via stablecoins like USDT. In addition to its role in oil transactions, USDT has become a vital financial tool for ordinary Venezuelans amid the ongoing devaluation of the national currency, the bolívar. Analysts suggest that the arrest of Maduro will not diminish USDT's usage in the region; instead, it may prompt U.S. law enforcement to leverage blockchain technology to track potentially misappropriated funds.