The Cuban regime, through the official portal Cubadebate, has launched a new offensive against the independent media outlet ElToque, accusing it of contributing to the country's financial crisis through its Informal Market Representative Rate (TRMI), which reflects the real value of currencies on the streets of Cuba.
The article -taken from TeleSur- is laden with insinuations and conspiracy theories.
In reality, it is nothing more than another attempt by the government to divert attention from its own failed policies and to blame a digital medium for the collapse of an economy ruined by decades of centralism, censorship, and neglect.
Instead of taking responsibility for the systematic decline of the national economy, Cubadebate accuses ElToque of influencing informal markets, "amplifying inflation," and "exacerbating inequality," citing connections with foreign organizations such as Open Society Foundations and the National Endowment for Democracy.
Exchange Rate Evolution
The state media does not provide concrete evidence of data manipulation by ElToque, and instead merely points out the "suspicious" origin of its funding and questions the use of algorithms for calculating the exchange rate.
However, as ElToque has explained repeatedly, its TRMI is an informative tool based on the automated analysis of thousands of ads published on social media and buying and selling sites like Revolico.
The media does not set prices; it simply reports what is already happening in the informal market, the only functioning space left for millions of Cubans to access foreign currency due to the total inefficacy of the state banking system.
Blaming the thermometer for the fever
The most absurd aspect of this narrative is its logic: according to the regime, the publication of data about the exchange rate causes its increase. In other words, they blame the messenger, not the message.
The Cuban economy does not collapse because ElToque reports the value of the dollar, but rather because the country does not produce, does not export, does not have sufficient foreign currency, prints unsupported money, and has turned the informal market into the only reliable reference for most citizens.
What Cubadebate qualifies as an "economic weapon" is, in reality, a journalistic and technological response to the institutional opacity and the complete disconnection of the Cuban state from the reality of its people.
A repeated and desperate practice
It is not the first time that the regime tries to blame ElToque for its failures.
In May 2024, the Banco Metropolitano accused him of being part of an alleged "induced inflation operation" orchestrated by the United States, and of seeking to provoke a "social upheaval" with the rise of the dollar.
Those statements were widely discredited by Cuban economists.
Expert Carlos L. Martínez described the bank's analysis as "a bunch of nonsense" and stated that the author was "more ideologue than economist." Meanwhile, renowned economist Pedro Monreal openly called for "the necessary literacy for bankers at Metropolitano."
Both agreed that inflation, shortages, poverty, and the devaluation of the peso do not stem from any digital media, but from the failed economic model governing the Island.
This is compounded by government decisions such as the creation of MIPYMES without access to foreign currency, the cash shortage, the lack of support from the MLC, and forced banking, all driven by the state itself.
A regime without answers or self-criticism
The attack on ElToque is nothing more than another smokescreen. While the dollar surpasses 385 CUP in the informal market, the Cuban government continues to blame a website for a situation it has created over more than six decades.
The repression of freedoms, the lack of transparency, and the refusal to implement structural reforms keep Cuba in a deep crisis that doesn't need external enemies, because the greatest enemy has been the system itself.
The real threat to the regime is not ElToque, but the truth that this outlet exposes daily: the Cuban people no longer believe in excuses.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Collapse of the Cuban Peso and the Attack on El Toque
Why does the Cuban regime blame El Toque for the economic crisis?
The Cuban regime blames El Toque for the economic crisis by accusing it of influencing inflation and informal markets through its Informal Market Representative Rate (IMRR). However, El Toque explains that its IMRR simply reflects the real value of foreign currencies in the streets, which is a result of the inefficiency of the state banking system and failed government policies.
What is the Representative Rate of the Informal Market (TRMI) of El Toque?
The Informal Market Representative Rate (TRMI) from El Toque is an informative tool that records the actual value of currencies in the Cuban informal market. It is based on the automated analysis of advertisements on social media and buy-sell sites. El Toque does not set prices; rather, it reports the existing values in an informal market that has become the only functional space for many Cubans.
What is the current situation of the Cuban peso in the informal market?
The Cuban peso continues to plummet in the informal market, with the dollar exceeding 385 CUP. This devaluation reflects an economy that does not produce or export enough, and that relies on the informal market as a reliable reference for most citizens.
How does the economic crisis affect telecommunications in Cuba?
The economic crisis has led to the collapse of telecommunications in Cuba, with official recommendations to switch to 2G to maintain communication during power outages. This evidences the deterioration of the country's infrastructure, exacerbated by the lack of energy backup at ETECSA's radio bases.
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