Brazil Central Bank Crypto Licences: Who Is on the 2026 List
Brazil's central bank list of November 6, 2026: Binance, Bitget, Bybit, Gate and MEXC are under review, 24 approved, and what it means for PIX and banks.
In this article
- The short answer
- Where readers get tripped up
- Who should pay attention
- The five exchanges on the November 6 list
- The rules behind the list: Resolutions 519, 520 and 521
- What the November 6 list actually shows
- Exchange by exchange
- What it means for anyone using crypto in Brazil
- Misreadings and what to do instead
- How the four exchanges compare for Brazil
- Where this leaves Brazilian users
On November 6, 2026, Brazil’s central bank (Banco Central do Brasil, BCB) published the list of firms that applied to provide crypto services in the country. This guide shows where Binance, Bitget, Bybit, Gate and MEXC stand on that list, what Resolutions 519, 520 and 521 require, and what changes for anyone funding an account in Brazilian reais.
The short answer
- None of the five foreign exchanges covered here was authorized as of November 8, 2026. Binance, Bitget, Bybit, Gate and MEXC are all listed as under review (em exame).
- The November 6 list showed 24 approved applications, mostly from traditional banks and financial institutions, and 1 rejection.
- The total number of applicants depends on the source: 134 in Exame’s table, 120 in another report.
- Firms that filed by October 30, 2026 keep operating under the transition period until the BCB decides. No decision date has been published.
Where readers get tripped up
- On the list is not the same as licensed. The BCB says the list shows filed applications under review. Authorization only applies after approval.
- The headline count varies. 134 and 120 are both in circulation. One may be an older version of the list, or a different way of counting.
- There is no decision deadline. No source has published when the foreign exchanges will get an answer.
Who should pay attention
| Profile | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Anyone depositing reais by PIX to a foreign exchange | Deposits go through banks, which since November 6, 2026 may not do business with providers that fail regulatory conditions |
| Anyone keeping crypto on an exchange long term | A future rejection would require that exchange to stop serving Brazil |
| First-time users choosing an exchange | Knowing who is under review and who is approved helps the comparison |
| Anyone trading over R$30,000 a month on a foreign exchange | A monthly report to the tax authority applies regardless of BCB status |
| Anyone looking for an already-approved firm | Most of the 24 approvals are traditional banks, not crypto exchanges |
| US and Canadian residents | Not served by any of the four exchanges, whatever their BCB status |
The five exchanges on the November 6 list
| Exchange | Status | Name on the list | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | Under review | BBrasil | Application filed on October 23, 2026 |
| Bitget | Under review | BTGT | Earlier press counts placed it among 63 applicants |
| Bybit | Under review | Not detailed in the source | Local team in São Paulo (third-party) |
| Gate | Under review | Not detailed in the source | No application had been found before; now confirmed |
| MEXC | Under review | Not detailed in the source | Left out of the Satovela comparison because of the FinCEN order of November 6, 2026 |
Source: Exame’s table of the BCB list, last updated November 6, 2026 at 18:07. Data checked on November 8, 2026.
The rules behind the list: Resolutions 519, 520 and 521
The three resolutions implement Law 14,478 of December 21, 2022, Brazil’s virtual assets law. According to the records consulted, they took effect on February 2, 2026. The summary below follows law-firm write-ups; the original articles were not checked one by one.
| Resolution | What it covers |
|---|---|
| BCB No. 519 | The authorization process: anyone providing virtual asset services needs authorization to operate |
| BCB No. 520 | How providers (PSAVs) are set up and run, including the three categories below |
| BCB No. 521 | Brings PSAVs under foreign exchange and international capital rules; since May 4, 2026, authorized FX institutions report minimum data on virtual asset FX transactions to the BCB |
Resolution 520 splits providers into three types:
| Category | Role |
|---|---|
| Intermediary (intermediária) | Brokers trading and distribution of virtual assets |
| Custodian (custodiante) | Holds client assets |
| Exchange-broker (corretora) | Does both: intermediates and holds |
What was the deadline for foreign firms?
Firms already active in Brazil and covered by the transition period had until October 30, 2026 to file an initial application. Those that did not file are required to wind down Brazilian services within the set period, reported as 30 days.
What changes with banks?
Resolution 520, as amended by Resolution 589/2026, bars BCB-authorized financial and payment institutions from carrying out or facilitating business with virtual asset providers that do not meet regulatory conditions. Records point to November 6, 2026 as the start of that ban. The sources consulted do not explain how banks treat firms that filed on time and are still under review.
What the November 6 list actually shows
How many firms applied?
Exame published the full list with 134 companies. Podcriptonews reported 120 applications. The gap may reflect an earlier version or a different count. The official BCB page loads the list in the browser; open it there before quoting a number.
Who has been approved?
24 applications, mostly from traditional banks and financial institutions such as Banco do Brasil, Itaú Unibanco, Bradesco, BTG Pactual and Safra.
Was anyone rejected?
One application: Higherway Tech Soluções Ltda, which is unrelated to the five exchanges in this guide.
When will the foreign exchanges get a decision?
No date has been published. All five remain under review, with no next step announced.
Exchange by exchange
Binance
Filed on October 23, 2026 through local company BBrasil; the November 6 list confirms it is under review. Binance’s official page lists BRL deposits by PIX (available around the clock) and TED bank transfer. Binance was hacked on October 29, 2026; the details are in what happened in the Binance hack.
Bitget
Listed as BTGT, under review. Before the official list, the press counted it among 63 applicants, an earlier and smaller tally. BRL deposits work through PIX under the bank deposit option. The Bitget review covers the rest.
Bybit
Under review. According to third-party reports, its legal, compliance and finance team works from a São Paulo office; Bybit entered Brazil in April 2022 with a US$50 million investment and cited more than 200,000 active users as of September 2026. A PIX deposit option has not been confirmed on an official Bybit page.
Gate
The status that moved the most. Until shortly before the list, no Gate application had been found. Then Bitnotícias reported that Gate would not leave Brazil and was preparing its filing, with local operations through Gate Brasil and client balances held by a BCB-authorized payment institution. The November 6 list confirmed it: under review. According to Gate’s official blog, PIX deposits start at R$25 with no fee, from a bank account under the same CPF (Brazilian taxpayer number).
MEXC
Also under review. Bitnotícias says it had not been confirmed in earlier surveys and now appears on the official list. On the same day, November 6, 2026, FinCEN (part of the US Treasury) issued an order cutting MEXC off from US financial institutions. For that reason Satovela leaves MEXC out of its exchange comparison. The BCB review and the US order are separate processes.
What it means for anyone using crypto in Brazil
Does PIX still work?
Firms that filed on time remain in the transition period. The official pages of Binance, Bitget and Gate list PIX for BRL deposits. The sources consulted do not explain how banks apply the new ban to firms under review. If a bank rejects a transfer, contact both the exchange’s support and the bank.
What if an application is rejected?
The rules require unauthorized providers to stop serving Brazil. As of November 8, 2026, no source had recorded the BCB shutting down a firm that failed to apply. For anyone holding crypto, a ready exit plan takes the edge off: know which wallet or exchange to move to, and on which network. Crypto wallet basics explains self-custody options.
What about taxes?
BCB status does not change the Receita Federal’s IN 1888 reporting rules:
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Acquisition cost of one type of crypto from R$5,000 | List it under “Bens e Direitos” (assets and rights) |
| Trading on a foreign exchange from R$30,000 in a month | Monthly report |
The two thresholds serve different purposes. A local accountant can confirm what applies.
Is there a local alternative?
Mercado Bitcoin has held BCB authorization as a payment institution and e-money issuer since June 2, 2023. Its authorization as a virtual asset broker was still under review in October 2026; check its current status on the BCB list.
Misreadings and what to do instead
| Misreading | What can happen | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “It’s on the list, so it’s licensed” | Relying on a licence that does not exist yet | Read the status column: “under review” means an application, not an approval |
| “It’s not among the 24, so it’s illegal” | Pulling everything out in a rush and paying network fees for nothing | Remember that firms under review that filed on time stay in the transition period |
| “134 is the official number” | Repeating a total that may already be outdated | Check the count on the BCB page on the day |
| “A BCB licence replaces tax reporting” | Missing the monthly report deadline | Follow the IN 1888 thresholds in every case |
| “Under review means no risk” | Keeping an entire reserve on one exchange | Decide how much to leave there and keep an exit plan |
How the four exchanges compare for Brazil
| Binance | Bitget | Bybit | Gate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCB status (Nov 6, 2026) | Under review (BBrasil) | Under review (BTGT) | Under review | Under review |
| PIX on an official page | Yes (PIX and TED) | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes (from R$25) |
| Major 2026 incident | Hack on Oct 29, covered by SAFU and the company | Hack on Sep 24, covered by the protection fund | None found | None found |
| Proof of reserves (latest found) | BTC 100.04% (Oct 31, 2026, third-party) | 135% (Sep 2026) | 50 assets above 100% (Oct 27, 2026) | 118.49% (Sep 2026) |
| With the Satovela code | 10% fee rebate + new-user rewards | 20% off trading fees | No code yet | 20% off trading fees |
Data checked on November 8, 2026; the official page always prevails. How to read reserve figures is covered in proof of reserves explained. The referral code guides for Binance, Bitget and Gate explain each discount, and the exchange comparison page has a fee calculator.
Where this leaves Brazilian users
The November 6, 2026 list made clear who applied, but not which foreign exchanges will be approved: Binance, Bitget, Bybit, Gate and MEXC are all under review. Until a decision comes, they stay in the transition period, and three of them still list PIX on their official pages. The practical step is to check the official list before large moves and keep tax reporting up to date.
For a step-by-step first purchase, see how to buy crypto.
FAQ
Is Binance licensed by Brazil's central bank?
Not yet. Binance applied on October 23, 2026 through its local company BBrasil and is listed as under review ('em exame') on the central bank's list of November 6, 2026.
Which crypto firms has Brazil's central bank approved?
According to the November 6, 2026 list, 24 applications were approved, mostly from traditional banks and financial institutions such as Banco do Brasil, Itaú Unibanco, Bradesco, BTG Pactual and Safra. Binance, Bitget, Bybit, Gate and MEXC remain under review.
Does being on the central bank list mean an exchange is authorized?
No. The central bank says the list only shows that an application was filed and is being reviewed. Authorization applies once it is approved.
How many companies applied for authorization?
Exame published 134 applications on the November 6, 2026 list; another outlet reported 120. The gap may come from different versions or dates, so check the official page for the current count.
Can US or Canadian residents use these exchanges?
No. Binance, Bitget, Bybit and Gate do not serve residents of the US or Canada, whatever their status with Brazil's central bank.
Content is for education only and is not investment advice. Crypto and stocks can lose value. Risk disclaimer · Affiliate disclosure
Sources
- Banco Central do Brasil — Virtual asset service provider authorizations
- Exame — Full list of the 134 applicants (November 6, 2026)
- Banco Central do Brasil — Presentation on virtual assets, FX and capital
- Bitnotícias — Gate.io will not leave Brazil and is preparing its application
- Binance — BRL deposits via PIX and TED
- Bitget — BRL deposits via PIX
- Gate — Buying crypto with PIX in Brazil
- FinCEN — Order against MEXC (November 6, 2026)