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 • SWIFT bank transfer 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?

No. CacaoCash charges 2.5% per QR payment or peso transfer, and before every payment you'll see: • The exact amount being charged • The live exchange rate • The 2.5% fee What you approve is exactly what leaves your wallet. Bank deposits have no CacaoCash fee. Full details at cacaocash.com/fees.

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 in Argentina: The 22 Digits, CVU and Alias Explained (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 pesos with them, without a DNI. With an app like CacaoCash you can send pesos to any alias, CVU or CBU from a USD balance, with no DNI or Argentine bank account.

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.

What the 22 digits of a CBU mean

A CBU has two blocks: the first 8 digits identify the bank and the branch, and the last 14 identify the account. Each block ends in a check digit, which is how a banking app catches a typo before the money leaves.

Digits	What they are
1 to 3	Bank code, for example 011 Banco Nación, 007 Galicia, 072 Santander, 017 BBVA
4 to 7	Branch
8	Check digit for the first block
9 to 21	Account number (13 digits)
22	Check digit for the second block

A CVU uses the same 22-digit layout, but it always starts with 000 followed by the code of the wallet that issued it. A Mercado Pago CVU, for example, starts with 0000003100. That's the quickest way to tell them apart: if the number starts with 000, it's a wallet; otherwise it's a bank account. Either way, you can send pesos to it the same 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 lets foreigners use the sending side of this system with a passport, no DNI:

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

You can send pesos to anyone's alias, CVU, or CBU straight from your USD balance.
Everything converts at the crypto dollar rate, with a 2.5% fee shown before you confirm (see fees), so you still get ≈6% to 10% more pesos than at the non-resident card rate (October 2026).
Receiving pesos to your own alias needs a DNI today: CacaoCash does not give foreigners an alias or CVU to receive. See how to receive pesos as a foreigner for the options that work.

In short: the same instant peso system Argentines use, open for sending from a dollar balance. The person you pay receives a normal transfer and pays nothing. 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, and an app like CacaoCash can send pesos to either one.

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?

Not today. Having your own alias to receive pesos needs an Argentine account, and that needs a DNI. With CacaoCash you can still send pesos to any alias, CVU or CBU using your passport.