Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro and a notable Cuban influencer, took to Instagram this Sunday with a message aimed at the U.S. dollar in Cuba. He suggested lowering the exchange rate to 650 CUP in the informal market, emphasizing the importance of solidarity among Cubans.
His Instagram story featured the informal exchange rate board from elToque, indicating the dollar was trading at 695 Cuban pesos (CUP).
Accompanying the image, Sandro Castro wrote: "The pause is done, good job with the new measures. On Monday, decide whether to go up or down. Vampirach's advice: drop to 650, let it flow, don't tighten, we're all Cubans."
The influencer viewed the temporary stabilization of the dollar as a positive response to new economic measures announced by the regime, urging fellow Cubans to support each other.
In addition to the dollar, the image shared other informal market rates: the euro at 800 CUP, MLC at 507.30 CUP, the Canadian dollar at 438.97 CUP, and Zelle at 659.95 CUP.
Continuing a Prediction
This Sunday's message follows a prediction made by Sandro Castro on Saturday, June 20. He addressed elToque—whom he accuses of being "the villain"—forecasting that the dollar would decrease or stabilize around 700 CUP thanks to a package of 176 economic measures announced by the regime.
In that earlier message, Castro argued that the key would not be internal salaries but the inflow of foreign capital.
"I know you're going to drop a bit or pause the dollar at 700 CUP because you're not relying on salary increases or anything like that, as significant money from abroad will come in. So, I'll be keeping an eye on you, elToque."
Backdrop of Economic Reforms
The immediate context of both posts is the largest package of economic reforms from the Cuban regime since the Special Period, presented by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to the National Assembly on June 18 and 19.
Some of the most notable measures include the authorization of private banking for the first time since 1959, private exchange houses, currency auctions, and a real-time digital exchange market. However, implementing these changes requires amending over 148 legal provisions and approving 32 new regulations, a process that could take months.
The United States government labeled these reforms as "superficial smoke signals."
Throughout June, the dollar has experienced a consistent rise, moving from 585 CUP at the start of the month to 695 CUP as of Monday, marking an increase of 110 CUP in just twenty days.
Sandro Castro has been publicly at odds with elToque for months. In October 2025, he blamed the platform for the dollar's surge and in November accused them of making "100 million dollars" in a single day by manipulating the market.
Despite his social media attacks on the independent outlet, his economic predictions, unwavering belief in the new measures, and repeated social campaigns, the dollar's price in the black market shows no signs of halting, at least for now.
FAQs on Cuba's Currency Situation
What measures were announced by the Cuban regime to stabilize the economy?
The Cuban regime announced a package of 176 economic measures, including the authorization of private banking, private exchange houses, currency auctions, and a real-time digital exchange market.
How has the U.S. government responded to Cuba's economic reforms?
The U.S. government has dismissed these reforms as "superficial smoke signals," implying skepticism about their effectiveness.
What is Sandro Castro's stance on the dollar's exchange rate in Cuba?
Sandro Castro has urged for the dollar to decrease to 650 CUP in the informal market, encouraging solidarity among Cubans and supporting the new economic measures.