Brazil delays crypto transactions above $10.000 to 24 hours

Brazil’s central bank will introduce new rules next year that can delay certain crypto transactions for up to 24 hours. This applies to transfers of more than $10.000 to foreign crypto service providers or to so-called self-custody wallets. The measure is intended to combat financial scams, with crypto increasingly being used to siphon money out quickly.

In brief:

• Brazil is imposing a delay of up to 24 hours on crypto transactions above $10.000 to foreign destinations or users’ own wallets.
• The rule applies per individual transaction or based on the total a customer transfers in a single day.
• The central bank says the measure does not amount to a freeze on funds and does not permanently block transactions.

New rules focus on fraud prevention

Brazil’s central bank reports that cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, are increasingly being used to move proceeds from financial fraud across borders at great speed. That is what has prompted the regulator to intervene. The new rules take effect at the start of next year and specifically target transfers to foreign crypto providers and wallets managed outside an exchange.

The $10.000 threshold is calculated per individual transaction, but the total transfers a customer makes in one day also counts. If that takes someone above this amount, the transfer can be held. In addition, other transactions may also be delayed if they require further review under the risk management policy, according to Reuters.

No freeze, but oversight

The central bank explicitly emphasises that the delay does not amount to freezing funds. Transactions are not permanently blocked, but may be temporarily held for review. This distinction matters because a blanket block would have broader legal implications.

The decision fits into a wider international trend in which governments and regulators are tightening the reins on crypto to combat scams and money laundering. The EU has previously warned of a rise in crypto-related fraud. Physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders have also already cost victims worldwide tens of millions of dollars in 2026.