Brazil to Delay Big Crypto Transfers Abroad to Fight Fraud

Brazil is cracking down on crypto fraud by making it harder for scammers to move stolen money quickly.

The country's central bank (the government body that controls money and banking rules) has announced that crypto exchanges (websites where people buy and sell digital coins like Bitcoin) must now delay certain transfers of money leaving the country.

What exactly is changing?

• Transfers worth more than $10,000 must be held for up to 24 hours
• This applies whether it's one big transfer or several smaller ones adding up in a single day
• Even smaller transfers can be delayed if the exchange thinks they look suspicious
• The rule kicks in on January 1, 2027

The delay affects money sent abroad or to a self-custody wallet (a personal digital wallet that only you control, like a private safe for your crypto, instead of leaving it on an exchange).

Why is Brazil doing this?

The central bank says criminals are using crypto — including stablecoins (digital coins designed to hold a steady value, usually tied to the US dollar) — to quickly move money stolen from fraud victims. The 24-hour hold gives victims and banks a chance to catch the theft before the money disappears.

The hold isn't always the full 24 hours. If an exchange checks a transfer and finds nothing wrong, it can release the money early. But it must keep records of that decision and tell the customer when their transfer has been paused.

The new rules also put more responsibility on exchanges to judge how risky each transaction is, based on the customer, the amount, who's receiving it, and which country it's going to.

Not everyone is happy. Regina Pedroso, head of a Brazilian crypto industry group, warned the rules could add costs for honest users and make local exchanges less competitive compared to foreign ones.

Bottom line: Brazil is trying to slow down fraudsters, but the trade-off is more friction and waiting time for everyday crypto users.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/08/08/brazil-s-central-bank-orders-exchanges-to-delay-large-crypto-transfers-abroad