Brazilian crypto investment stands at 17.2% of respondents, ranking fifth among investment options and outpacing fixed-income bank certificates, foreign currency, gold, and stocks; crypto investors number about 29 million, more than twice the number invested in stocks.

Two-thirds of Brazilians are aware of cryptocurrency, with bitcoin and ether as the most recognized assets, and Drex—the central bank’s CBDC project—ranking third.

The second National Crypto Survey was conducted by Paradigma and Datafolha, sponsored by Coinbase and Hashdex, surveying 2,004 Brazilians from May 11–14 across 137 municipalities with 95% confidence and a 2% margin of error.

Major banks like Nubank and Itaú Unibanco have integrated crypto trading into their platforms, enabling adoption without leaving traditional banking apps.

Crypto adoption is rising as high stock market fees, bureaucracy, and education gaps push a younger, digitally native population toward an accessible, lower-entry-cost alternative.

The trend points to crypto becoming a mainstream investment in Brazil, with traditional finance expanding access and potentially reshaping the financial landscape over time.

Brazil designated the central bank as the crypto regulator in June 2023, establishing a framework for virtual asset service providers that boosts investor confidence.

The regulatory environment, including the central bank’s role and the VA service provider framework, supports Brazil’s crypto growth and retail investor confidence.

FAQ notes that higher barriers in stock markets—fees and bureaucracy—drive people toward crypto, with most purchases occurring through banking apps; growth is linked to regulatory clarity and economic conditions.

A large majority (83%) of Brazilian crypto investors buy or hold via banking apps, while 26% use self-custody wallets and 20% use exchanges, signaling strong bank involvement in access to crypto.

Inflation and currency volatility are pushing Brazilians toward alternative stores of value like crypto, gold, and foreign currency.

Crypto participation is broadly accessible, with over 77% of investors earning less than three minimum wages and a significant portion earning less than one minimum wage, underscoring crypto as a popular option among lower-income Brazilians.