Crypto wallets in Brazil

The rules in detail

A crypto wallet stores the keys that let you control digital assets. A self custody wallet, such as a hardware device or a mobile app, keeps the private keys in your own hands. A hosted or custodial wallet, such as the balance held on an exchange, means a provider holds the keys for you. Both are lawful to use in Brazil as of 2026. Crypto is recognised as a virtual asset under Law 14.478/2022, though it is not legal tender, and there is no prohibition on owning a wallet, holding your own keys, or transferring crypto between wallets you control.

The regulatory weight falls on providers rather than individuals. Under the framework that Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) published in November 2025 and that took effect on 2 February 2026, a business that provides custody, holds customer crypto, or operates a hosted wallet service is a virtual asset service provider and must obtain prior authorisation from the central bank, segregate client assets, hold defined minimum capital, apply anti money laundering and counter financing of terrorism controls, and undergo independent audits. Existing operators have a transition window to apply. An individual using a self custody wallet for their own assets is not providing a service to others and does not seek authorisation, as of 2026.

The BCB framework also addresses the movement of crypto from custodial services to self custody wallets, reflecting the central bank's focus on traceability and consumer protection rather than any restriction on personal ownership. The Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (CVM) retains authority over crypto assets that qualify as securities. Your right to hold a wallet and control your own keys is not in question, as of 2026.

Tax

This is general information and not tax advice. Simply holding crypto in a wallet is not a taxable event in Brazil. Tax arises on disposal, administered by Receita Federal do Brasil (RFB). As of 2026, an individual's monthly disposals up to R$35,000 are exempt, and gains above that follow progressive capital gains rates from 15 percent up to 22.5 percent. Moving crypto between your own wallets is not a disposal, but selling, swapping, or spending it is. Off exchange, foreign, or peer to peer transactions above R$30,000 in a month must be self reported under Normative Instruction 1.888/2019. Keep dated records of the real value of each disposal and verify your position before filing. See the Brazil crypto tax page.

How to act and availability

To fund a wallet compliantly, acquire crypto through a platform that is genuinely available to Brazilian residents, such as Mercado Bitcoin or Bitso, or a major international exchange that serves the market, then move the funds to a wallet you control if you prefer self custody. The main practical risks are yours to manage. With self custody, losing your seed phrase or exposing it to a phishing scam means the funds are gone, with no recovery and no consumer protection. With a hosted wallet, you depend on the provider's security and solvency. Use strong offline backups of your recovery phrase, treat unsolicited messages and fake support as hostile, and confirm a custody provider is authorised by the BCB before trusting it with your assets. Compare the exchanges available in Brazil below.

Regulator and sources

• Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), bcb.gov.br, the virtual asset service provider authorisation framework published 10 November 2025 and effective 2 February 2026, including custody, capital, audit, and anti money laundering requirements
• Law 14.478/2022, the legal framework for virtual assets, and Decree 11.563/2023 designating the BCB as the sector regulator
• Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (CVM), gov.br/cvm, for crypto assets that qualify as securities
• Receita Federal do Brasil (RFB), gov.br/receitafederal, for the tax treatment of disposals and Normative Instruction 1.888/2019 reporting

Frequently asked questions

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