Key Takeaways:
- On April 30, Brazil’s Central Bank banned crypto in cross-border payments, impacting institutions by Oct 1.
- Bitso’s 2025 report reveals stablecoins drove 40% of Latam crypto buys, shifting the market toward stability.
- In 2026, Meta and Stripe launched USDC payouts in Colombia, targeting frictionless future creator payments.
Brazil Bans Crypto in Cross-Border Payments
The Central Bank of Brazil is moving to curb the institutional adoption of cryptocurrency assets, including bitcoin and stablecoins, within its regulated cross-border payment system.
Resolution No. 561, published on April 30, amends earlier resolutions to improve the provisions of international payments of transfer services, banning cryptocurrency as an option that institutions providing these cross-border payment and exchange services can tap.
The document stresses that these transactions must be carried out “exclusively: I – through a foreign exchange transaction or movement in a non-resident’s Brazilian real account held in Brazil, with the use of virtual assets being prohibited.”
Nonetheless, the resolution, which comes into effect on October 1, lists “virtual assets” as a special category identifying transactions, meaning the bank recognizes their existence but chooses not to allow their implementation in cross-border operations.
Bitso: Stablecoins Hit 40% of Latam Crypto Buys
Bitso, one of Latam’s largest cryptocurrency service providers, has unveiled its 2025 Crypto Landscape in Latin America report, underscoring the key role of stablecoins in the region.
The report, which analyzed data from nearly 10 million customers across key markets including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, found that nearly 40% of all purchases in 2025 involved dollar-pegged assets, such as USDT and USDC.
USDC’s share of purchases (23%) overcame Bitcoin (18%) and USDT (16%), which the exchange took as a sign that its customers are now prioritizing financial stability and liquidity over short-term strategies.
Meta Launches USDC Stablecoin Payouts for Creators in Colombia and the Philippines
The rollout marks Meta’s most concrete step yet into crypto-based payments after years of regulatory setbacks. Creators who qualify can connect a compatible crypto wallet to their Meta payout account and begin receiving earnings in USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin, directly on the Solana or Polygon networks.
Stripe, which acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge, is the primary partner powering the backend. Meta issued requests for proposals to third-party providers in February 2026, with Stripe emerging as the leading choice. The current pilot reflects what those early discussions targeted: a workable, low-friction system for international creator payments.
The path to this moment was not direct. Meta attempted its own cryptocurrency project, originally called Libra and later renamed Diem, between 2019 and 2022. Regulatory opposition from lawmakers in the United States and Europe killed the effort.
