Venezuela is desperate for cash.



A worker walks past a mural with a PDVSA logo at its gas station in Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos Garcia Rawlins | Reuters

Days after OPEC decided not to give into Venezuela's pleas to cut oil production, President Nicolas Maduro has begun talking up several moves to raise money, including plans to slash 20 percent of "unproductive" spending and an attempt at "perfecting" the country's foreign exchange system.

"Clearly the government is trying to send signs to the market that they are working on necessary adjustments that the economy needs in order to honor international commitments and keep up with social policies, which are essential for political stability," said Diego Moya-Ocampos, a senior political risk analyst at IHS. "However, these policy adjustments are not enough. This reflects simply that the government is desperately looking for funds to compensate for the lost revenues from declining oil prices." Read MoreVenezuela's future? 'Barbarity and people looting

The sharp decline in oil prices—Brent crude is at a five-year low—is making Venezuela's autocratic government act swiftly. The commodity accounts for 95 percent of the country's export earnings. Barclays predicts that the economy will contract 6.2 percent and inflation will surpass 120 percent in 2015. The IMF projects Venezuela's economy to decline by a more modest 1 percent.

Last week, Venezuelan Finance Minister Rodolfo Marco went hat in hand to China in a search for loans. He's expected to visit Iran and Russia next. "We are thus skeptical that the economic team's plan to tap international lenders, including China, over coming weeks will yield any tangible results," Bank of America economist Francisco Rodriguez said in a recent note. China has already loaned tens of billions of dollars to Venezuela—which Caracas repays in oil shipments. About half of the oil that Venezuela ships to China goes to paying down existing debt. Read MoreCreating inflation is easy. Just ask Venezuela

But political instability could prompt China to cut back on what has been a critical source of revenue, analysts say. "If that lifeline is cut, Venezuela doesn't have a whole lot of options," said Eric Farnsworth, vice president at Council of the Americas and Americas Society.