Brazil to Hold Crypto Transfers 24 Hours from 2027

What does the new Central Bank rule actually require?

Brazil's Central Bank published Resolution BCB No. 584 on 7 August 2025, introducing a precautionary hold of up to 24 hours on certain virtual-asset transfers. The rule targets outbound transfers to overseas crypto companies and self-custodied wallets. It takes effect on 1 January 2027.

Which transactions are affected?

Any transfer exceeding US$10,000 — including the cumulative total of a client's transactions on the same day — is automatically subject to the hold. Below that threshold, institutions can still apply the measure if they detect risks related to the client, the transaction, the counterparty, or the destination jurisdiction. A transfer may be released before the 24-hour window closes, provided the decision is formally documented.

Why is ABcripto pushing back?

The Brazilian Crypto-Economy Association (ABcripto) says the goal of fighting fraud and money laundering is legitimate, but argues the chosen instrument misses the mark. Its president, Júlia Rosin, called the disagreement technical: a time-based hold hits legitimate transactions as hard as suspicious ones, and erodes one of crypto's core advantages — fast settlement.

Could the rule backfire?

ABcripto warns that users who rely on quick settlement may migrate to unregulated alternatives: DeFi protocols, peer-to-peer trades, or offshore intermediaries outside Brazil's regulatory perimeter. That shift, the association argues, would actually reduce authorities' ability to track transactions — the opposite of the rule's intent.

Was the industry consulted?

ABcripto says the sector had only four business days to comment on the draft, while earlier requests to the Central Bank about existing rules remain unanswered. The association also flags the absence of a formal Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and says it will analyse the Bank's justification for waiving that requirement. Sources cited by Valor Econômico note that the Central Bank is under pressure to act quickly following a series of fraud episodes, which has narrowed the window for longer market consultations. They also point to capacity constraints at the BC, CVM, and Coaf as all three bodies take on new digital-asset mandates.