Brazil Central Bank Tightens Crypto and Stablecoin Rules
Brazil's central bank has unveiled stringent new regulations for the cryptocurrency sector, bringing exchanges and stablecoin issuers under anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) oversight. The framework, set to take effect in February 2026, imposes heavy compliance burdens including FX-style rules for fiat-linked crypto transactions, identity verification requirements, and capital mandates reaching R$37.2 million.
Critics warn the measures could enable "total surveillance" as Brazil prepares to launch its central bank digital currency, Drex. The rules mark the country's most comprehensive effort to align crypto trading with traditional financial oversight—a move regulators claim will curb fraud and money laundering in a market that processed R$1.7 trillion ($330 billion) last year.
