Brazil Tightens Crypto Transfer Rules With 24-Hour Delay to Combat Fraud

Brazil’s central bank said Friday that some cryptocurrency transfers will have to be delayed by up to 24 hours under new anti-fraud rules, taking effect next year.

The delay is guaranteed for transfers over $10,000 sent to foreign virtual-asset firms or to self-custody wallets, a threshold aimed at larger transfers rather than routine, everyday transactions. But the central bank also said the same delay could apply to other transactions that require closer scrutiny under its own risk-management policies.

• Over $10,000 to a foreign virtual-asset firm or self-custody wallet: the 24-hour hold is guaranteed.
• Below $10,000: a delay is still possible if the transaction is flagged under the central bank’s risk-management policies.

The central bank tied the rule to the growing use of virtual assets, including stablecoins, to quickly move scam proceeds out of reach.

How the threshold is measured

The $10,000 threshold can be measured either per transaction or against a customer’s total transfers in a single day. The central bank said the measure is not an asset freeze and does not permanently block transfers.

The central bank said the rule takes effect next year. It’s also unclear what specific criteria the risk-management review uses to flag a transaction below $10,000, according to the Reuters.

Brazil’s proposal to delay certain cryptocurrency transfers by up to 24 hours comes as authorities intensify efforts to curb illicit financial activity.

The regulatory push follows recent enforcement actions in which Brazil froze about $2 billion in assets after U.S. sanctions targeted an alleged crypto money-laundering network, highlighting growing scrutiny of cross-border digital asset flows.

FAQ

1. Does this freeze my crypto? No, the central bank said the measure is not an asset freeze and doesn’t permanently block a transfer.

2. What guarantees a 24-hour hold? A transfer over $10,000 to a foreign virtual-asset firm or a self-custody wallet.

3. Can a smaller transfer still get delayed? Yes, the central bank can apply the same delay to other transactions it flags under its risk-management policies, regardless of size.