The Maduro regime in Venezuela has fallen! Nobel laureate becomes a top candidate for president, having previously advocated for Bitcoin reserves.

After the arrest of the Venezuelan president, Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has become a top contender for succession. She has previously advocated for including Bitcoin in the national reserves, aiming to lead the country out of financial tyranny and transform it into a technological hub.

Venezuelan president’s arrest makes Bitcoin advocate a top presidential candidate

Following the U.S. execution of a “decapitation operation” to arrest President Nicolás Maduro, the transfer of power in Venezuela has become a global focus. Now, María Corina Machado, a Bitcoin advocate and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is seen as one of the leading candidates to take over after Maduro.

Data from the prediction market Kalshi shows that, by the end of 2026, traders estimate a 27% chance that Machado will lead Venezuela, close to the 29% chance for the second-place candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia.

It is widely believed that González Urrutia actually won the May 2025 presidential election but was prevented from taking office by Maduro-led United Socialist Party.

The top candidate is former Vice President Delcy Eloína Rodríguez, who was appointed interim president by the Supreme Court after Maduro’s arrest, with a winning probability of about 35%.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. will temporarily take control of the country before establishing a new leadership in Venezuela, adding uncertainty to the country’s short-term situation.

Who is Machado? The witch despised by Maduro and Peace Prize laureate

58-year-old Machado is a well-known opposition figure against Maduro’s dictatorship. For over a year, she has almost severed contact with the outside world, continuing to lead underground opposition movements. Maduro’s regime has fabricated charges against her, forcing her family into exile, and hundreds of her supporters have been imprisoned as a result.

Despite this, the female leader, seen as a symbol of Venezuela’s fight for freedom, remains steadfast.

After Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize, Maduro publicly insulted her as a “devilish witch,” attempting to sow discord between her and Trump, who also sought the prize.

Image source: heute.at photo library, María Corina Machado, Bitcoin advocate and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate

However, Machado did not fall for the trap. She publicly praised Trump as deserving of the award and supported his decision to launch a comprehensive war against Venezuela’s drug cartels.

In an interview, she stated that Maduro’s regime is essentially a drug-terrorist dictatorship that has destroyed electoral commissions, the judiciary, the military, and media—institutions that ensure public opinion—turning Venezuela into a crime hub in Latin America.

Machado’s vision: transforming from a crime center into a technological energy hub

Although Machado was not yet arrested by Trump when she was interviewed by Israel Hayom, she already has a blueprint for restoring Venezuela.

She revealed that the country has been severely damaged, and the primary task is to restore order, security, and the rule of law, ensuring all citizens, investors, and families can live without fear.

Furthermore, she plans to open the economy to the world, creating conditions for Venezuelans abroad to return home, and to attract investment using national resources to bring prosperity and employment. The third step is to strengthen democratic institutions to ensure power serves the citizens.

Machado’s goal is to transform Venezuela from a crime hub into Latin America’s energy, security, and technology center. As a long-term supporter of Bitcoin, she previously told the Human Rights Foundation that she plans to include Bitcoin in the country’s reserves to help adopt it as a payment solution, aiming to repair the financial system destroyed by hyperinflation.

Related reading:
2025 Nobel Peace Prize Winner — Venezuelan Opposition Leader: Bitcoin as a Way Out of Financial Tyranny

Venezuela’s economic chaos, cryptocurrencies become a lifeline for exiles

Looking back, Venezuela was once one of Latin America’s most prosperous and democratic countries, with vast oil reserves and high living standards.

However, since Chávez took power in 1999 and pushed the Bolivarian Revolution, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. Although Chávez promised to return wealth to the people, he actually established a centralized regime. Since Maduro took over in 2013, the economy has collapsed, with over 8 million Venezuelans fleeing the country.

Amid hyperinflation and currency devaluation exceeding 99.99%, cryptocurrencies have become an important payment tool. Many exiles abroad use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to send funds back to their families in Venezuela, making them a vital lifeline amid economic hardship.

Trump questions Machado; analysts say public support is strong

Although Machado has performed well in prediction markets, Trump remains cautious about her leadership ability.

After announcing that the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela, Trump stated, “Machado is a very good woman, but she lacks enough support and respect in the country to lead it out of Maduro’s regime,” causing Machado’s chances on Kalshi to temporarily decline.

Image source: Flickr, Gage Skidmore, Trump announced that the U.S. will temporarily oversee Venezuela, stating that Machado is a very good woman but lacks sufficient support and respect in the country

However, political analyst and founder and CEO of Project Pulso Liz Rebecca Alarcón, who is familiar with Venezuela’s situation, pointed out that Machado actually has overwhelming support within Venezuela.

She said that the will of the Venezuelan people, both domestically and internationally, should be respected, and that this will ultimately allow Machado and González Urrutia to take power.

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