The informal currency market in Cuba started this Saturday with new increases in the major currencies, confirming that the pressure on the Cuban peso was not an isolated incident, but rather the result of a trend that had been developing throughout the week.
According to data published by the independent observatory elTOQUE, the United States dollar (USD) rose today to 495 Cuban pesos (CUP), five pesos higher than the day before.
The euro (EUR) surged to 550 CUP, also with an increase of five pesos, while the freely convertible currency (MLC) fell to 400 CUP, five pesos less than the previous day.
Informal exchange rate in Cuba Saturday, February 7, 2026 - 06:00
Exchange Rate Evolution
- Exchange rate of the dollar (USD) to Cuban pesos CUP: 495 CUP
- Exchange rate of the euro (EUR) to Cuban pesos CUP: 550 CUP
- Exchange rate from (MLC) to Cuban pesos CUP: 400 CUP
The movement this Saturday breaks the stability that the dollar had shown for several days and confirms the euro as the strongest and most dynamic currency in the informal market, widening its lead over the other currencies.
It is not, however, an abrupt and unexpected leap, but the culmination of a progressive escalation.
During the last week, the market behavior was mostly gradual, with staggered advances and intermediate pauses. The dollar, for example, started the period at 485 CUP at the end of January, rose to 490 CUP in the first days of February, and remained at that level for several consecutive days.
That stability did not reflect the strength of the peso, but rather a temporary balance between supply and demand, or a pause in expectations, which was ultimately broken today with the new increase to 495 CUP.
The euro showed a somewhat different but equally revealing dynamic. At the end of January, it was trading at 530 CUP and made a more pronounced jump at the beginning of the week, rising to 540 CUP.
After a brief correction, it stabilized again and then returned to an upward trend, first reaching 545 CUP and finally the current 550 CUP. In total, the European currency gained 20 pesos over seven days, consolidating itself as the main value reference in the Cuban informal market.
This pattern indicates that the market did not react impulsively, but rather adjusted prices as negative signals accumulated.
The energy crisis, persistent inflation, and an increasingly uncertain political climate urged economic players to act proactively, gradually raising prices before the deterioration fully manifested in daily life.
The MLC, on the other hand, followed a different logic. After rising to 405 CUP on the previous day, today it falls back to 400 CUP, showing erratic behavior. Unlike the dollar and the euro, its value is influenced by restricted use in state-owned stores and by its diminishing appeal compared to physical currencies, which offer greater flexibility and safeguarding capacity.
The weekly balance leaves a clear conclusion: the movements have not been chaotic or disordered, but rather the result of sustained tension that ultimately expressed itself in today's rise. The informal market, as in previous instances, anticipated and adjusted prices gradually, sending clear signals regarding the lack of confidence in the Cuban peso.
While the regime fails to generate stability or credibility, the informal market continues to function as the true barometer of the Cuban economy.
The closing of this week confirms that the devaluation of the peso is not progressing through isolated blows, but rather through a constant erosion, where each day adds pressure to an increasingly fragile economic system.
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