Venezuela is expanding its payment options by embracing the Russian Mir platform across the nation. The announcement came from Ivan Gil Pinto, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic, and was published in the official gazette of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. This move marks a tangible step toward broader financial inclusion and smoother cross-border commerce for Venezuelan residents and visitors alike.
In a series of discussions held on Thursday, November 16, in Moscow, the foreign ministers of the two countries, Ivan Gil Pinto and Sergei Lavrov, participated in a bilateral exchange that culminated in a joint press briefing. The proceedings underscored the intent to deepen financial cooperation and facilitate everyday transactions for Venezuelans using Mir cards wherever the system is accepted.
During the briefing, a Caracas spokesperson provided a practical snapshot: the Mir platform now enables payments across 100% of Venezuela’s territory, with approximately 36% to 40% of payment points already accepting Mir cards. This progress reflects ongoing rollout efforts to integrate Mir into a broader portions of the country’s retail and service networks.
The spokesperson highlighted Margarita Island as a notable example of rapid adoption. All retail outlets on the island, which stands as the republic’s largest tourist destination, are now equipped to process Mir card transactions. This milestone illustrates how Mir is being positioned to support tourism and local commerce by expanding consumer payment choices for residents and visitors alike.
Earlier, on November 14, the operator of the Mir payment system announced that Russian banks would be permitted to use Mir terminals for making purchases and paying for services abroad. Vladimir Komlev, head of the National Payment Card System (NSCP), framed the decision as a move to streamline cross-border financial activities while maintaining compliance with national law and regulatory regimes. The policy aims to enable smoother international transactions while safeguarding the integrity of the payment landscape.
Events surrounding Mir in Venezuela have not been without hurdles. At one point, the Mir operator’s website faced a cyber attack, which temporarily affected access to its online services. The incident underscored the importance of robust cybersecurity measures as Mir expands its footprint beyond Russia and into foreign markets, including Venezuela. Industry observers note that ongoing security enhancements and reliable service delivery are essential to sustaining user trust as Mir broadens its geographic reach and merchant acceptance networks.
Overall, the initiative to integrate Mir into Venezuela’s payments ecosystem reflects a broader trend toward diversified, borderless financial services. For Venezuelan consumers, this means more convenient ways to pay, increased competitiveness among payment networks, and improved access to a wider range of goods and services. For merchants, Mir offers another option to serve customers, potentially boosting sales and enhancing customer satisfaction. As cooperation between Venezuela and Russia continues to evolve, observers anticipate further expansion of Mir acceptance points, additional cross-border payment arrangements, and ongoing dialogue about regulatory alignment and security frameworks that support the growing use of digital payment instruments across the region. In this context, the collaboration is framed not only as a financial mechanism but as a signal of strengthened bilateral ties and a shared interest in accelerating financial modernization for everyday life in Venezuela.