Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said that pre-sale of the country’s oil-backed cryptocurrency, the Petro (PTR), has raised $5 billion and recorded over 186,000 certified purchases. Mr. Maduro explained that the money raised from the cryptocurrency’s pre-sale will be used to “service everything our country needs.” Carlos Vargas, the country cryptocurrency superintendent, revealed that over 83,000 individuals from 127 countries attempted to purchase the oil-backed cryptocurrency. Among them were 3,523 entrepreneurs. The announcement came during a meeting with members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), in Caracas.