Countries › Brazil › Guide › 5. FX and capital controls › Crypto and stablecoins in Brazil's FX market: what counts as FX, what is prohibited and how it is reported

Crypto and stablecoins in Brazil's FX market: what counts as FX, what is prohibited and how it is reported

Argentina. For full detail on Argentina, go to The Argentine Thread.

Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Changing

Since 2 February 2026 cross border payments and transfers with virtual assets, transfers to and from self custody wallets and trades in fiat referenced tokens (stablecoins) are part of Brazil's FX market and follow FX rules. Virtual asset providers may not buy or sell crypto against foreign currency, must identify self custody wallet owners and must collect the purpose of each cross border transfer. Foreign loans and direct investment made in virtual assets fall under the same Central Bank reporting as cash operations.

USD figures use the Banco Central do Brasil PTAX selling rate of R$5.5007 per US dollar for 26 October 2026, the last rate published before verification. Conversions are for orientation only; the rate on the day of each FX contract will differ.

Key facts

Cross border crypto payments and stablecoin trades within the FX market	Yes, from 2 February 2026 Resolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-A, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Buying or selling virtual assets against foreign currency	Prohibited Resolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-A § 2, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Per transfer limit for the simplified purpose code list on crypto transfers	50000 USDResolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-C I, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Banco Central do Brasil PTAX selling rate, reais per US dollar	5.5007 BRLBanco Central do Brasil PTAX, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. The FX market includes virtual asset services covering: international payments or transfers with virtual assets; transfers of virtual assets to or from a client to settle international card or electronic payment obligations; transfers to or from self custody wallets that do not involve an international payment; and purchase, sale or exchange of virtual assets referenced in fiat currency.Resolução BCB nº 277, art. 76-A inserted by Resolução BCB nº 521 of 10 November 2025, Art. 76-A caput, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: New from 2 February 2026 under Resolução BCB nº 521 of 10 November 2025.

2. Buying or selling virtual assets with payment or receipt in foreign currency is prohibited, including on an order book. Moving third party funds through these services is prohibited, except when the provider serves an FX authorized institution acting for its clients. Providers must identify the owner of a self custody wallet and document processes to verify the origin and destination of virtual assets.Resolução BCB nº 277, art. 76-A §§ 2, 3 and 5, Art. 76-A §§ 2, 3 and 5, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. An international payment or transfer with virtual assets is one settled by a change of ownership of virtual assets between a resident and a non resident, or between non residents, or the sending or receipt of virtual assets of the same person to or from abroad. When the counterparty is a foreign provider, the Brazilian provider must check it is under effective prudential and conduct supervision or document a risk assessment.Resolução BCB nº 277, art. 76-B, Art. 76-B, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27

4. For these operations the provider must collect the purpose of each payment or transfer, using the simplified code list for amounts up to US$50,000, collect information on the foreign payer or payee and its relationship with the client, and give guidance on classification.
Example: US$50,000 is about R$275,035. / US$50,000 per payment or transfer for the simplified code list.Resolução BCB nº 277, art. 76-C, in force from 4 May 2026, Art. 76-C, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27

5. When these operations are made as investment, flows and stocks of foreign capital in Brazil and Brazilian capital abroad follow the specific rules for those capitals. External credit includes credit in fiat referenced virtual assets, and direct investment includes capital paid in with virtual assets; values are reported in fiat currency in SCE-Crédito and SCE-IED.Resolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-A § 6; Resolução BCB nº 278 arts. 1, 3 and 16, as amended by Resolução BCB nº 521/2025, Res. 278 arts. 3 §§ 1 and 2 and 16 §§ 1 and 2, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Coverage of virtual assets in Resolução BCB nº 278 applies from 4 May 2026.

6. Virtual assets held abroad by residents are Brazilian capital abroad and count for the CBE declaration.Resolução BCB nº 279, art. 1 § 2 and art. 7 IX, Arts. 1 § 2 and 7 IX, 2025-11-10 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Worked example

A Brazilian subsidiary receives USDT worth US$300,000 (R$1,650,210) from its foreign parent as a capital contribution. The transfer is an international transfer with virtual assets within the FX market, so the Brazilian provider records the purpose and the parent's details (Resolução BCB nº 277 arts. 76-B and 76-C). As direct investment of US$100,000 or more, it is reported in SCE-IED in its fiat value (Resolução BCB nº 278 arts. 3 § 2, 16 § 2 and 32).

Step by step

1. Use a virtual asset provider authorized in Brazil for any cross border crypto flow.
2. Expect to give the purpose and counterparty details for each cross border transfer (Resolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-C).
3. Report crypto based loans and capital contributions in SCE-Crédito or SCE-IED in fiat value (Resolução BCB nº 278 art. 16).
4. Include crypto held abroad in the CBE declaration if the threshold is met (Resolução BCB nº 279 art. 7 IX).

Common traps

Settling stablecoin trades in dollars through a Brazilian provider. Purchases and sales of virtual assets against foreign currency are prohibited (Resolução BCB nº 277 art. 76-A § 2).
Treating crypto funding as outside Central Bank reporting. Loans and capital in virtual assets follow the same rules as cash (Resolução BCB nº 278 art. 3).
Sending to an unidentified self custody wallet. The provider must identify the owner and check origin and destination (art. 76-A § 5).

Sources

Related: Brazil country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide

← Cash at the border, eFX international payment services and small transfers: limits that apply to people and businessesFX penalties and enforcement in Brazil: blocked transfers, Central Bank fines and forfeiture →