The Central Bank of Brazil has announced its most comprehensive crypto regulation to date, introducing mandatory licensing, capital requirements, and new rules for cross-border transactions.
As Latin America’s largest economy, Brazil is taking a major step toward formal oversight of its fast-growing digital asset sector. The framework, effective February 2, 2026, gives existing firms nine months to comply. Through three separate resolutions, the new regime defines how crypto service providers must operate, how much capital they must hold, and how international crypto transactions will be treated under Brazilian law.
Regulation Director Gilneu Vivan said the central bank aims to “balance innovation and security,” highlighting the importance of anti-money laundering compliance. However, capital thresholds ranging from 10.8 million to 37.2 million reals have drawn criticism from the industry. Bernardo Srur, president of the Brazilian Crypto Economy Association, warned that the high capital bar and short compliance timeline could reduce competition.
The regulation also expands oversight to include cross-border payments, self-custody wallets, and stablecoin transfers, now classified under foreign exchange and capital control rules. Each transaction will be capped at $100,000, and firms must report all activity to the central bank monthly. Additionally, cash-to-crypto purchases will be strictly prohibited.
