Brazil’s central bank has introduced new rules that bring crypto companies under financial supervision similar to traditional banks.
These measures, released on November 10, also define payments made with stablecoins as foreign-exchange operations.
The regulations, outlined in Resolutions 519, 520, and 521, create a new type of licensed company called Sociedades Prestadoras de Serviços de Ativos Virtuais (SPSAVs).
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These are businesses that provide services such as cryptocurrency trading, custody, and brokerage in Brazil.
Crypto firms must follow the same standards applied to financial institutions for customer protection, transparency, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). The rules will start on February 2, 2026, and mandatory reporting for cross-border and capital-market transactions will begin on May 4, 2026.
Resolution 521 specifies that buying, selling, or exchanging digital assets linked to national currencies, such as stablecoins, will be considered foreign-exchange activity. This also includes international payments or transfers using these assets.
As a result, stablecoin transactions will be subject to the same oversight as traditional cross-border money transfers.
Licensed foreign-exchange operators and SPSAVs will be allowed to carry out these activities as long as they meet documentation and value requirements.
The central bank stated that transactions involving unlicensed international partners will be limited to $100,000 per transfer.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England is working to introduce stablecoin regulations on a similar timeline to the United States. What did Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden say? Read the full story.
