If you've been keeping an eye on the crypto scene in Latin America, you've probably heard of Bitso. This Mexico City-based exchange has been making waves since 2014, and a recent thread on X by @StarPlatinum_ breaks down its "insane lore" in a way that's got the community buzzing. Let's dive into what makes Bitso a powerhouse and how its new onchain pivot is tying into the wild world of meme tokens.

The Early Days: Building Trust in a Volatile Region

Bitso kicked off in 2014 as one of the first crypto exchanges in Latin America. Starting with a focus on Bitcoin trading and simple fiat on-ramps, it quickly became a go-to for people dealing with unreliable banking systems. In regions like Mexico and Argentina, where inflation can erode savings overnight, Bitso offered a reliable alternative.

Hitting Unicorn Status and Massive Growth

The real glow-up came in 2021 when Bitso raised $250 million in its Series C round, skyrocketing its valuation to $2.2 billion. This made it the largest crypto platform in Latin America, a title it still holds. Fast forward to 2022-2023, and Bitso boasts over 9 million users across Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. We're talking billions in annual remittances and stablecoin volumes—real-world utility that's hard to ignore.

The 2025 Pivot: Enter Bitso Onchain

Now, in 2025, Bitso is going full throttle into decentralized finance with Bitso Onchain. This isn't just another app; it's a full-fledged onchain trading platform designed for speed and self-custody. Users can hold their own keys, trade perpetuals (perps, which are futures contracts without expiration dates), and even farm points across multiple platforms simultaneously.

Season 0 is already rewarding early adopters, setting the stage for bigger seasons ahead. With over 20,000 users in closed beta, another 20,000 on the waitlist, and more than $6 million in swap volume during testing, the traction is undeniable.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Token Launch and Perps Aggregator

The excitement doesn't stop there. Bitso plans to launch its own token in 2026, which could supercharge its ecosystem. Alongside that, a Perps Aggregator is slated for Q1, offering a single interface that routes trades to the best execution and lowest fees. This could make trading more efficient and accessible, especially in emerging markets.

Strong Ties to the Meme Token Ecosystem

What really caught our eye at Meme Insider is Bitso's ecosystem partnerships. They're linking up with heavy hitters in the meme token space like Pudgy Penguins (those adorable NFT penguins turned meme sensation), Shiba Inu (the dog-themed coin that spawned a massive community), WIF (dogwifhat, the Solana-based meme that's all about the vibes), Mog (a cat meme coin clawing its way up), Turbo (a speedy frog-inspired token), and Ponke (the monkey meme that's swinging into popularity).

These connections aren't just name-drops; they signal Bitso Onchain's intent to blend traditional crypto utility with the fun, viral energy of memes. For blockchain practitioners, this means more opportunities to engage with trending tokens while enjoying secure, onchain trading.

If you're intrigued, check out the original thread on X for the full scoop. Bitso is positioning itself as LATAM's crypto giant, and with meme token integrations, it might just become a global player. Stay tuned—2026 could be huge.