Welcome to this week's Latam Insights, a curated roundup of the most impactful crypto developments across Latin America. Three major stories dominate: Brazil's central bank issues a sweeping ban on crypto use in regulated cross-border payments; Bitso's latest report shows stablecoins now represent 40% of crypto purchases in the region; and Meta finally launches USDC-based creator payouts in Colombia and the Philippines through a Stripe partnership.
Brazil's Central Bank Prohibits Crypto in Cross-Border Payments
On April 30, Brazil's Central Bank published Resolution No. 561, amending existing rules for international payment and exchange services. The resolution mandates that all regulated cross-border transactions must be conducted “exclusively through foreign exchange operations or movements in a non-resident's Brazilian real account held in Brazil, with the use of virtual assets being prohibited.” This effectively bars institutions from using cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin and stablecoins—as settlement rails for cross-border payments. Notably, the resolution lists “virtual assets” as a special category for identification, acknowledging their existence while disallowing them. The new rules take effect October 1, 2026, giving institutions a five-month transition period. Industry analysts view the move as a precaution against capital flight, money laundering, and potential threats to the national currency.
Bitso Report: Stablecoins Comprise 40% of Latam Crypto Purchases
Bitso, one of Latin America's largest cryptocurrency service providers, released its “2025 Crypto Landscape in Latin America” report, analyzing data from nearly 10 million customers across Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. The key finding: nearly 40% of all crypto purchases in 2025 involved dollar-pegged stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. USDC alone accounted for 23% of purchases, surpassing Bitcoin (18%) and USDT (16%). Bitso interprets this as a shift toward financial stability and liquidity over short-term speculation. The report also highlights that stablecoin adoption is driven by high inflation in several Latam economies, making dollar-pegged assets attractive for savings and everyday payments.
Meta and Stripe Launch USDC Payouts for Creators in Colombia
After years of regulatory setbacks, Meta has taken its most concrete step into crypto payments. The company announced a pilot program allowing eligible creators in Colombia and the Philippines to receive earnings in USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin, directly to their wallets on Solana or Polygon networks. The backend is powered by Stripe, which acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge in late 2025. Meta issued requests for proposals in February 2026, ultimately selecting Stripe as the primary partner. The initiative marks a departure from Meta's earlier attempt to build its own cryptocurrency (Libra/Diem), which faced overwhelming regulatory opposition in the U.S. and Europe. The new approach leverages existing stablecoin infrastructure to offer low-friction, cost-effective cross-border payments for international creators.
These developments underscore a diverging regulatory landscape in Latin America: while Brazil tightens control over crypto in traditional financial systems, private-sector adoption of stablecoins continues to surge. The region remains a key battleground for crypto innovation.