A payment that in any other context might seem like a reason for relief ended up turning into a nightmare. A Cuban shared on social media an image of over 200,000 Cuban pesos received in low-denomination bills, a scene that rapidly went viral for what it represents: the everyday chaos of cash on the island.
In the video published by José Luis Llanes Matos, a table is seen covered by endless stacks of bills, organized in blocks that barely manage to contain the magnitude of the amount. “I was paid over 200k in $10 bills,” he wrote, accompanied by shocked emojis. The image is striking not only due to the quantity but also because of the evident difficulty in handling that money.
The reactions came quickly. Amid jokes, disbelief, and frustration, many users resonated with a reality that is becoming increasingly common in Cuba. "That's weighed, not counted," one commented, while another quipped, "And in the end, they tell you to check because I think 10 pesos are missing." Others were more direct: "That won't be accepted," or "Let's see who accepts that now."
The episode sparked a debate that goes beyond the anecdote. In a country where access to cash is irregular, banks limit withdrawals, and the electronic payment system struggles to take hold, situations like this highlight the distortions in the financial system. For many, receiving money in small bills is not just inconvenient; it is practically unusable in everyday life.
Some comments reflect this contradiction: “Money is money,” argued one user, while another calculated how much space that same amount would take up in larger denomination bills. There were also those who recalled similar experiences, from paying fines with coins to carrying large sums under impractical conditions.
Beyond the humor, the scene leaves a lingering question: what is the point of having money if using it becomes a problem?
The video also arrived at a time of heightened monetary tension on the island. Days earlier, the Central Bank announced the issuance of bills of 2,000 and 5,000 pesos, the highest denomination in the country's recent history.
The 5,000 peso banknotes began to circulate last Thursday at the Metropolitan Bank of Havana, with a gradual distribution to the rest of the country.
However, the measure was met with widespread irony on social media. The phrase my salary on a bill went viral immediately, because the average state salary in Cuba ranges from 4,000 to 6,830 pesos per month, which amounts to barely one of those new bills.
In the informal exchange rate, that 5,000 pesos bill represents about 10 dollars, practically an entire salary of a state worker.
On the other hand, the Cuban peso has lost 95% of its value against the dollar between 2020 and 2026, rising from 42 pesos per dollar to over 520, while inflation has multiplied prices by more than five times since 2010.
The cash crisis also has a critical logistical dimension, as in Havana has seen more than 50% of its ATMs become inoperative, decreasing from over 500 to around 200 that are operational.
In this context, some self-employed individuals in the capital are already refusing to accept low-denomination bills, including the 10-peso notes, arguing their minimal real value.
The Cuban comedian Mario Sardiñas, known as Chequera, sarcastically summarized the situation regarding the new banknotes: Get ready for the inflation class that's coming, dude.
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