Practical Legal Guide for Investors, High-Net-Worth Families, and International Corporations.

By Dr. Alan Aldana · Founding partner of VENFORT Lawyers
OFAC Certificate (FIU, USA) · Accredited before the International Criminal Court

Opportunity is not just oil

For years, Venezuela was viewed exclusively as an energy market. That has changed.

Oil opened the door. But smart capital is entering unsaturated sectors, where the potential for return is higher and competition has not yet consolidated.

More than 70% of the Venezuelan economy operates in U.S. dollars. Asset valuations reflect historical country risk, not current fundamentals. For investors familiar with the post-crisis cycles of Latin America—Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia—this profile is known: it is the initial phase of the recovery curve.

Where are the opportunities today

The most expensive mistake: believing that «everything is already open»

Venezuela in 2026 is a market Open, but not free. It is regulated by United States (OFAC) norms.

A profitable investment can become an international criminal problem if it is not structured correctly.

Two investors can make the exact same trade: one generates profit; the other faces penalties or capital freezes. The difference:

• Legal structure — in accordance with the US and Venezuela simultaneously
• Financial traceability — verifiable and documented payment circuits
• Sanctions compliance — Enhanced due diligence, not just SDN filtering
• Counterparty selection — ultimate beneficiary identified, no prohibited links

New: The financial system is opening up

GENERAL LICENSE 57 — APRIL 14, 2026
OFAC Enable financial operations with Venezuelan public banking

For the first time since 2019, U.S. financial institutions can operate with the Central Bank of Venezuela, Banco de Venezuela, Banco Digital de los Trabajadores, and Banco del Tesoro.

Operations now authorized

This solves the most critical bottleneck: the payment system. The missing financial infrastructure now exists.

Red lines: what you can never do

• Operating with individuals on the OFAC SDN List
• Using opaque structures: triangulation, cryptocurrency, gold, frozen assets
• Payments outside of the authorized system (Foreign Government Deposit Funds)
• Using unverified intermediaries or blocked vessels
• Engage actors from Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or sanctioned Chinese networks
• Use Venezuela as a bypass for sanctions regime

In this market, improvisation is not an option. The difference between lawful and unlawful lies in the quality of legal structuring.

Is this environment right for you?

Why do most fail

1. They underestimate OFAC's real weight —even if they are not American. The extraterritorial reach affects any operation that touches the dollar or entities with a nexus to the U.S.
2. They don't understand Venezuelan complexity. — uncertain property rights, hyperinflationary accounting, hidden liabilities, regulators with practices that can only be navigated with on-the-ground presence.
3. They ignore the need for dual structuring — A project can comply with Venezuelan law but be unfeasible under OFAC sanctions. Or vice versa. Real legal certainty only exists when both perimeters are satisfied.

Our commitment: reconstruction, not complicity

VENFORT stands on the side of Venezuela's institutional reconstruction. Lawful international investment is a driver for the country's recovery: its financial system, its energy industry, its infrastructure, and the living conditions of its population.

The reconstruction of a country is built with legitimate capital, solid institutions, and advisors who understand that integrity is a condition of doing business.

VENFORT Approach: Making Investment Viable

We don't just say whether you can invest or not. We design the operation:

• Investment Structuring in Compliance with GL 46, GL 57, and Venezuelan Law
• Sanctions Risk Analysis — OFAC Eligibility, Due Diligence, Continuous Screening
• On-the-ground due diligence — assets, ownership, EBITDA, hidden liabilities
• Criminal and Reputational Protection — Anti-Corruption, Laundering, PEP Screening
• Contractual Architecture — Penalties, Exit, International Arbitration

Washington Analysis + Venezuela Execution. Over 20 years. Offices in Madrid and Caracas. Team with former magistrates, former prosecutors, former presidents of private banking. Network in 15 jurisdictions.

Venezuela in 2026 is not a market for everyone. But for those who know how to enter it: a real, early opportunity with high return potential.

The difference isn't in accessing. It's in doing it correctly.

Before investing in Venezuela, ask yourself:

Would your operation withstand an OFAC review?
If the answer is unclear, you need to structure it before moving forward.

Legal notice: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Each transaction requires an individualized analysis. VENFORT only accepts mandates after KYC, sanctions screening, and reputational assessment. The firm reserves the right to reject any case.

VENFORT LAWYERS
Sanctions • Investments • Compliance • International Criminal Law • Extraditions • INTERPOL • ICC

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