Brazil Sets Friday License Deadline for Crypto Exchanges to Keep Operating

Crypto exchanges operating in Brazil must submit license applications by Friday, Oct. 30, to keep serving customers during regulatory reviews that can last up to two years.

Firms that miss the deadline will have 30 days from Friday to stop providing services. Starting Nov. 6, banks and payment institutions will also face restrictions on crypto transactions with providers that lack authorization.

Brazil’s central bank, Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), introduced a crypto regulatory framework in November 2025. It requires service providers to verify the origin and destination of transfers, including those involving self-custody wallets. The rules also set a $100,000 limit on certain international crypto transfers when the counterparty is not authorized to operate in Brazil’s foreign-exchange market. Exchanges still have questions about wallet identification, how the limit applies and transaction-reporting thresholds.

Fabio Cendão, founder of Brazilian law firm FCM Law, said applying is only an initial step. He cited capital requirements, technical certification, custody audits and anti-money laundering controls as additional compliance demands, and said the costs could make compliance difficult for smaller exchanges.