# Cuba cash shortage and electronic payment enforcement

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cuba-cash-shortage-and-electronic-payment-enforcement
> Updated: 2026-08-07T17:29:27.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In early August 2026 the Cuban government intensified its push to shift the economy to electronic transactions. Authorities ordered the closure of several cash‑only shops in Granma province and imposed heavy fines and surcharges on merchants that resisted electronic payments, citing the 2023 Resolution 111 that mandates digital transactions for all economic actors. The crackdown was part of a nationwide effort by the National Tax Administration Office to improve tax compliance and counter the U.S. embargo.

The following day officials linked the growing cash scarcity to the absence of a functional foreign‑exchange market. Without a formal market, businesses resort to informal channels, leading to low cash deposits, tax evasion, and a surge in illegal dollar purchases. Bank data showed that only a small fraction of micro‑enterprises and self‑employed workers were making required daily deposits, limiting banks’ ability to meet public demand. The cash shortage was presented as a broader crisis tied to the enforcement of electronic payment rules.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: Cuban cash shortage linked to lack of functional foreign‑exchange market

Cuban cash shortage stems from a non‑functional foreign‑exchange market, causing businesses to avoid bank deposits; tax evasion and illegal dollar buying worsen the crisis.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuban-cash-shortage-linked-to-lack-of-functional-foreignexchange-market

### 2026-08-06: Cuban government cracks down on cash‑only businesses, closing shops and imposing payment surcharges

Cuban authorities closed five Bayamo shops for refusing electronic transfers and reported 40% surcharges in Sancti Spíritus, underscoring widespread non‑compliance with the 2023 electronic‑payment mandate.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuban-government-cracks-down-on-cashonly-businesses-closing-shops-and-imposing-payment-surcharges

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Cite as: Cuba cash shortage and electronic payment enforcement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cuba-cash-shortage-and-electronic-payment-enforcement