The Central Bank of Brazil (BC) announced an expansion of regulatory oversight regarding virtual asset transactions. The measure, which takes effect on October 1, 2026, primarily targets anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, aligning the cryptocurrency market with stricter financial monitoring standards.
The new guidelines directly impact Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and users who rely on self-custody wallets, demanding greater transparency in high-value transactions.
Mandatory Reporting to Coaf
The primary change introduced by the Central Bank concerns mandatory notifications to Coaf (Brazil’s Council for Financial Activities Control). Starting in October 2026, cryptocurrency transfers equal to or exceeding US$ 10,000 conducted to or from self-custody wallets must be automatically reported to the agency.
Self-custody wallets are those in which the user retains direct control over the assets and private keys, without requiring an intermediary or exchange to custody the funds. Because this setup provides less readily available data to regulatory authorities, the new requirement seeks to bridge this information gap.
The US$ 10,000 threshold operates exclusively as a trigger for mandatory reporting. The Central Bank clarifies that this amount does not represent a cap or prohibition on cryptocurrency movements. Coaf’s mandate is to receive and assess this data to detect potential irregular patterns, underscoring that reporting a transaction does not classify it as unlawful.
Beyond virtual assets, the automatic reporting requirement to Coaf was also extended to physical cash foreign exchange operations reaching or exceeding the same US$ 10,000 threshold.
New Requirements for Market Participants
Companies operating within the virtual asset market will also encounter new regulatory deadlines and requirements. Operating VASPs will have until October 1, 2026, to formally submit their authorization requests to the Central Bank.
The regulation also establishes strict procedures for winding down commercial relationships with entities that lack authorization or are not undergoing regularization. Furthermore, specific data submission requirements for Central Bank supervision will take effect on January 1, 2027.
These rules complement the framework established in November 2025, which set baseline requirements for market participants, including:
- Client protection and transparency in customer relations;
- Anti-money laundering policies;
- Security protocols and implementation of internal controls;
- Customer risk profiling prior to executing complex operations.
Practical Considerations
This regulatory package reflects the Brazilian authorities’ efforts to enhance the volume and quality of data across the cryptoasset market. For investors and businesses, the current landscape requires technological and procedural adjustments to secure compliance with reporting and transparency mandates, mitigating risks linked to operations with limited data availability.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific matters, consult a qualified lawyer.
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