Who remembered when China banned crypto mining? Seems like a very long time ago. While it was a hard pill to swallow for crypto adoption and the price of Bitcoin, the level of adoption we have seen ever since that move was made is one reason why China’s crackdown on crypto has been more of a blessing. One of those countries that have brought its A-game to cryptocurrencies is Brazil.
Brazil is not new to cryptocurrencies. The country has been in the headlines for a myriad of reasons. First, it was the second country in the world to approve Bitcoin ETFs; then, crypto started booming in the country after a series of currency devaluations and inflation dealt harshly with Brazilians. In its little stint in Brazil, a Ponzi scheme involving cryptocurrencies has also robbed people to the tune of millions of dollars. There seems to be a never-ending news
cycle about cryptocurrencies in the south-American country.
This previous week, Brazil made the headlines again. This time, the government decided it was high time they started including the option for bitcoin payment in their real estate tax system. This taxation system will first kick off in the country’s second largest city, Río de Janeiro, and over time, will extend to other parts of the country. It will be a comprehensive project, perhaps, one of the most comprehensive projects ever undertaken by the Brazilian government regarding any financial innovation, but this start is commendable.
In response to this development, Changpeng Zhao (fondly called CZ), the CEO of Binance, announced that they are setting up offices around Rio Janeiro. According to him, the mayor has played his role, and it is left to the cryptocurrency exchange giant to play hers.
Brazil’s crypto adoption over the years
Contradictions are a necessity when it comes to Brazil. The country has both the highest GDP per capita and the largest population in Latin America, yet around a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. The minimum wage ranks in the bottom half of minimum wages around the world.
In another aspect of Brazilian contradiction, despite the government’s effort to regulate the activities of cryptocurrency and crypto exchanges in Brazil, the country ranks high amongst the countries with crypto usage, with the average crypto ownership being around two cryptocurrencies.
The minimum wage in Brazil is very low and over two-quarters of crypto users in Brazil earn just around or below the minimum wage, which means that many people are earning crypto instead. It’s also interesting to note how much more volume Bitcoin trades compared with gold- but this could just mean one thing: The future of cryptocurrency might be located there.
When will these crypto / real estate laws be enacted?
The timeframe for implementing these crypto taxes is around 2023, as reported by the economic development secretary. How the taxation will be carried out is still unclear, but several pieces of evidence suggest that the role of exchanges will be paramount in converting these crypto payments into fiat currencies, giving the government the chance to earn in full.
This way, the government is accepting cryptocurrencies as legal tender while also positioning itself for the new wave of the financial revolution. Real estate taxes will not be the end of crypto usage, as the government is looking for a workable plan to aid public transportation using cryptocurrencies. Tourism and cultural integration are two other aspects being considered, and this would most likely bring NFTs to the open.
According to the information obtained, this initiative will start in Río de Janeiro, since it is one of Brazil’s largest cities. Over time, it will extend to other cities in the country, treading carefully with the success and mistakes of the first mover, Rio.
What the future holds
The race in Latin America is heating and heating fast. The largest crypto exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, is moving to preserve its share of the crypto market in Brazil, as new entrants like Binance offer direct competition. According to Binance’s CEO, Brazil marks a strategic milestone in the company’s development, and the number of job openings in the country suggests they are in for the long haul.
Another crypto exchange that is positioning itself in Brazil is Crypto.com, looking to replicate success from the Asian space; Crypto.com is increasing its local presence and effecting integration that will make a crypto purchase via fiat very
seamlessly.
While the majority of crypto wars going on in Brazil involve exchanges, Social media giant Meta made attempts towards registering with the Brazilian government in January. The plan from Meta is geared towards designing hardware devices for bitcoin services, as the company is strongly looking towards positioning itself for the Metaverse evolution.
Conclusion
Cryptocurrency is on the rise, and Brazil may become a global leader in crypto exchanges. Already, Latin America is proving to be a hub for cryptocurrency activity. With interest in cryptocurrency growing worldwide, it’s likely that more exchanges like European exchange, Redot.com, will emerge in Latin America–making this region an important player in the global crypto market.
Just a quick question, if you don’t mind, Have you traded cryptocurrencies on LATAM-based exchanges? How do you think they compare to other exchanges? Someone here might need your answer, so keep them coming.
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