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May 05, 2026Strategic Consulting

BCB 521 and Stablecoins: What Changes for Currency Exchange in Brazil

Executive Summary

BCB 521 classified foreign currency stablecoins as FX operations when used for international payments and remittances — with a 3.5% IOF and capital requirements. Furthermore, BCB 561 (April 2026) prohibits eFX companies from using stablecoins as remittance settlement rails starting October 2026, restricting this market to full authorized institutions.

Overview

Since February 2026, international payments via stablecoins (USDT/USDC) are officially classified as FX operations. Authorized exchange houses have a unique advantage: they already hold the license required by the new regulatory landscape.

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Executive Pain

"BCB Resolution 521 has definitively changed the relationship between traditional FX and digital assets. A massive opportunity for authorized exchange houses, but a real threat for those who ignore the new restrictions of Resolution 561."

Strategic Solution

Avalon helps exchange houses structure their stablecoin offerings, ensuring regulatory compliance with BCB 521, BCB 561, and ANBIMA 20, focusing on compliance, technology, and strategic positioning.

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Ricardo Zago

About the author

Ricardo Zago

Consultant and Co-founder of Avalon Blockchain Consulting · Blockchain Professor at FIAP · Startup Mentor

Ricardo Zago works on structuring blockchain businesses, real asset tokenization, and stablecoins for the corporate market. He develops projects at the intersection of traditional markets and decentralized infrastructure, focusing on regulatory feasibility and generating results for Brazilian companies.

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