Cuba's Informal Currency Market Sees Dollar and Euro Rise Amid Structural Shortage

The informal currency market in Cuba saw significant increases for both U.S. dollars and euros on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The dollar closed at 665 Cuban pesos (CUP), up from 663 CUP the previous day, while the euro ended the session at 752 CUP, also 2 pesos higher than its prior value.

The MLC, which has seen a limited volume of transactions, showed a slight upward trend, but this figure should be approached with caution. At the end of the trading session, the MLC was approximately 449 CUP, up from 417 CUP the previous day, representing a 32-peso increase.

The current exchange rates are as follows: USD to CUP at 665, EUR to CUP at 752, and MLC to CUP at a tentative 449. The official rates from the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) remain significantly lower than those in the informal market, with the dollar at 638 CUP and the euro at 745 CUP.