What exactly is CacaoCash?

CacaoCash is a digital wallet built for people who travel or live in Latin America. It lets you pay with the QR codes locals use every day — Pix in Brazil, Mercado Pago in Argentina, and more — using money you load from abroad. No local bank account, no cash runs, no bad exchange rates.

How do I add money to my wallet?

Several ways — whatever's easiest for you: • ACH or SEPA bank transfer • Credit or debit card • SWIFT bank transfer • Crypto deposit (USDC and other major assets — paste your address or scan from any wallet) You'll always see the exact rate and any fees before you confirm. No surprises.

Do I need to verify my identity?

Yes, once. It's a quick in-app process — a photo of your ID and a selfie. It keeps your account secure and lets us work with regulated financial partners across the region. Most people finish in under 3 minutes.

What if a payment is pending, fails, or I get a refund?

Pending payments usually clear on their own within minutes. If a payment fails, your balance is returned immediately. Refunds land straight back in your wallet — no waiting, no friction. If anything ever looks wrong, our support team is one message away.

Are there hidden fees?

Never. Before every single payment, you'll see: • The exact amount being charged • The live exchange rate • Any applicable fees What you approve is exactly what leaves your wallet. That's a promise.

How do I know my money is safe?

CacaoCash is non-custodial — your funds are never pooled with anyone else's and every transaction requires your explicit approval. Identity verification and money movement are handled by licensed, regulated partners. You stay in control at all times.

Which countries are live?

CacaoCash is live today in: • 🇦🇷 Argentina — Mercado Pago QR Coming soon: • 🇧🇷 Brazil — Pix • 🇨🇴 Colombia • 🇵🇪 Peru — Yape

I lost my phone. What happens to my money?

Nothing bad. Your account is tied to your identity, not your device. Just install the app on a new phone, sign in, and everything is exactly as you left it — balance, transaction history, all of it.

CBU vs CVU vs Alias in Argentina: What's the Difference and Which to Ask For (2026)

If you've spent a week in Argentina, you've heard it: "pasame tu alias" or "te paso el CBU". Someone wants to pay you, or you want to pay them, and suddenly there's an acronym you've never seen. This guide explains what alias, CVU, and CBU actually mean, how they fit together, and how foreigners can send and receive pesos with them, without a DNI.

Term	What it is	Where it lives	When to ask for it
Alias	A nickname like juan.perez.mp that points to a CBU or CVU	Any bank or wallet	Always ask for this first. It is what Argentines share.
CVU	22-digit key of a digital wallet account	Mercado Pago, Ualá, Naranja X, Personal Pay	Most individuals and freelancers
CBU	22-digit key of a traditional bank account	Banks (Galicia, Santander, Nación, BBVA…)	Landlords, companies, anyone paid into a bank

All three land in the same instant transfer system, so it never matters which one you get: pesos sent to an alias arrive exactly like pesos sent to the CBU behind it.

CBU, the bank account number

A CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme) is a 22-digit number that uniquely identifies a traditional bank account. It's the original way to route a transfer in Argentina. You'll be asked for it when paying invoices, rent, or anyone who banks the old-fashioned way.

CVU, the wallet version

A CVU (Clave Virtual Uniforme) is the exact same idea, also 22 digits, but for a virtual account: a digital wallet like Mercado Pago or Ualá rather than a bank. Functionally, sending to a CVU and sending to a CBU feel identical.

Alias, the human-friendly nickname

Nobody wants to dictate 22 digits. An alias is a short, memorable nickname, words separated by dots, like maria.flores.mp, that points to a CBU or CVU behind the scenes. When you "pass your alias," you're just handing over an easy label for your account.

How they all connect: Transferencias 3.0

All of these live on top of Transferencias 3.0, Argentina's interoperable instant-payment rail. It means a Mercado Pago wallet can pay a bank account, a bank can pay a wallet, and an alias can point anywhere, all instantly, free, and around the clock. It's why money moves so smoothly between Argentines.

The catch for foreigners

To have an alias, CVU, or CBU, you need an Argentine account, and that needs a DNI. So foreigners can read all the acronyms they like and still have nothing to give when someone says "pasame tu alias."

How CacaoCash fits in

CacaoCash gives foreigners both sides of this system without a DNI:

Step by step, with costs against a wire and Western Union: how to send money to Argentina from abroad.

You get your own alias / CVU to receive pesos, just like a local.
You can send pesos to anyone's alias, CVU, or CBU straight from your USD balance.
Everything converts at the crypto dollar rate, so you're not losing ~10% to the non-resident rate.

In short: the same instant, free peso system Argentines use, opened up for foreigners, funded in dollars. And when a merchant shows a QR instead of asking for an alias, you can pay any Argentine QR without a DNI the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a CVU and a CBU?

A CBU points to a traditional bank account; a CVU points to a virtual wallet (like Mercado Pago). For sending and receiving, they work the same way.

Is an alias just a nickname for those numbers?

Yes. An alias is a short, readable label that routes to a CBU or CVU so nobody has to share 22 digits.

Can a foreigner get an alias without a DNI?

Through CacaoCash, yes, you get your own alias and CVU to send and receive pesos with no DNI or local bank account.