The Central Bank of Brazil announced new regulations extending existing financial sector rules to virtual asset service providers (VASPs), including cryptocurrency exchanges and payment platforms. The framework, set to take effect in February 2026, brings the digital asset market under the same compliance standards as traditional financial institutions.
Under the new rules, all crypto service providers must obtain central bank authorization and adhere to strict anti–money laundering (AML), anti-terrorism financing, and customer protection guidelines. The regulations also classify stablecoin-to-fiat conversions as foreign exchange transactions, tightening oversight of their growing use in domestic and cross-border payments.
The central bank said the initiative aims to reduce fraud and illicit activity while improving market transparency. This step follows the 2022 cryptocurrency law, which officially designated the central bank as Brazil’s primary crypto regulator, reinforcing the country’s position as one of Latin America’s leaders in digital asset regulation.
