Brazil to Freeze Crypto Transfers Above $10,000 for 24 Hours From 2027

Brazil's central bank orders a 24-hour hold on large crypto transfers

Brazil's Central Bank published Resolution 584 on 7 August, expanding the country's fraud-prevention rules to cover virtual asset providers. The measure forces crypto firms to wait 24 hours before they execute certain transfers. It targets funds that fraudsters try to move quickly beyond the reach of victims and investigators. The bank is bringing crypto firms under supervision that already applies to banks and payment companies. The resolution amends Resolution 142, the framework that first set fraud controls for payment services.

The rule covers transfers above $10,000 to private wallets

The 24-hour hold applies to transfers above the equivalent of $10,000. That threshold counts either a single transaction or the combined daily total from one customer. The rule covers transfers to self-custody wallets, which users control directly, and to crypto companies based abroad. It applies to traditional cryptocurrencies and to fiat-backed stablecoins that people use for cross-border payments.

Providers must assess risk before releasing flagged transfers

Providers must review each held transfer before they release it. They must weigh the customer's risk profile, the type of transaction, the counterparty, and the recipient's jurisdiction. Firms can release a transfer early once they finish that review. They must also tell the customer why the hold applies and how long it will last. Smaller transactions can face a hold when a firm's own systems flag them for closer review. Providers must keep records of each held transfer and the review behind it.

The measure takes effect on 1 January 2027

The Central Bank can tighten the rules further for firms that fail to comply. It may order holds longer than 24 hours, lower the $10,000 threshold, and limit early releases. The new requirement takes effect on 1 January 2027. Brazil brought in authorisation and compliance rules for virtual asset providers in February 2026, and Resolution 584 adds the transfer hold to that framework.

Bitcoin traded near $64,700 as Brazil tightened crypto rules

Bitcoin traded at $64,656.80 at the time of publication, down 0.7% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 10 August 2026). Its market value stood near $1.30 trillion. The token has dropped about 49% from its record high of $126,173, set in October 2025 (CoinPaprika, 10 August 2026). The new rule does not cap how much crypto residents can hold or send. It adds a waiting period on large outbound transfers so firms can check them first.

Brazil ranks among the world's top crypto markets

Brazil is one of the world's largest crypto markets. According to Chainalysis, the country ranked fifth in the firm's 2025 global adoption index. Chainalysis estimated that Brazil received about $318.8 billion in crypto between July 2024 and June 2025, roughly one-third of Latin America's activity. The Central Bank said the new controls also strengthen anti-money-laundering supervision of exchanges and cross-border flows.