Dollar Exchange Rates as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026
On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Argentina's foreign exchange market shows the official dollar selling at 1,515 pesos at Banco Nación, with a buying rate of 1,465 pesos. The informal blue dollar trades at 1,555 pesos for selling and 1,508.35 for buying. The blue dollar is the parallel exchange rate used in the black market, reflecting scarcity of foreign currency.
| Type of Dollar | Buy | Sell |
|---|---|---|
| Official (Banco Nación) | 1,465 | 1,515 |
| Blue | 1,508.35 | 1,555 |
| MEP | — | 1,522.45 |
| CCL | — | 1,578.69 |
| Tarjeta (credit card) | — | 1,969.50 |
| Crypto (DAI) | — | 1,563.40 |
What is the Blue Dollar?
The blue dollar is the unofficial exchange rate in Argentina, traded in the informal market. It arises from strict capital controls that limit access to official dollars. Businesses and individuals often turn to the blue market to buy foreign currency at a market-driven rate.
Country Risk and Economic Context
The country risk index, compiled by JP Morgan, climbed to 497 basis points on Tuesday, the highest level since late May. This reflects market uncertainty ahead of the 2027 presidential election and slowing economic activity.
Argentina's inflation for July 2026 was 2.1% monthly, breaking a streak of three consecutive months of decline. So far this year, prices have accumulated 19.3%, while year-on-year inflation stands at 33.8%, according to INDEC.
The market expects inflation to resume a downward path from August, as the government aims for single-digit annual inflation.
Other Dollar Variants Explained
MEP (Mercado Electrónico de Pagos) and CCL (Contado con Liquidación) are legal stock market operations that allow buying dollars at rates close to the blue market. The dollar tarjeta applies to foreign purchases and includes a 30% tax on top of the official rate, resulting in 1,969.50 pesos. The crypto dollar, such as the DAI stablecoin, trades 24/7 and serves as a reference outside market hours. On platforms like Ripio, DAI is quoted at 1,559.11 pesos, while other sources show 1,563.40.
The euro blue trades at 1,784.62 pesos.
For more details, see the original article from LA NACION.