Brazil Imposes 24-Hour Delay on Crypto Transfers to Curb Fraud

• Brazil’s central bank has said it will impose 24 hour delays on some crypto transfers over $10K from next year.
• Targets illicit funds from scams and ransomware, as stablecoins are often used to bypass security checks. 
• The rule raises questions about what greater transaction scrutiny means for legitimate crypto users.

On August 7, 2026, the Banco Central do Brasil announced that some cryptocurrency transfers will face delays of up to 24 hours under new anti-fraud rules taking effect next year. The measure targets transfers over $10,000 to foreign virtual-asset firms or self-custody wallets, measured per transaction or daily customer totals, as scammers exploit crypto speed.

Why Brazil is Delaying Some Crypto Transfers

Brazil’s central bank has announced that certain crypto transactions will be subject to a 24-hour delay as part of its new anti-fraud regulations set for 2027. The central bank attributed the move to the increasing use of virtual assets, such as stablecoins, to rapidly transfer funds from financial frauds. The measure comes as Brazil faces a severe digital fraud problem. From March 2025 to February 2026, there were approximately 34 billion scam attempts digitally, with an estimated $3.9B lost by 16.5 million people.

Scammers exploit stablecoins’ speed, 24/7 availability, and relative ease of moving value across borders or into uncontrolled wallets. In Brazil, the stablecoins represent about 80% or more of declared volumes and more than 90% of the last demand in the central bank data, of which USDT (Tether) represents the vast majority.

Brazil is the largest crypto market in Latin America with an estimated $318 billion in on-chain value received between mid-2024 and mid-2025 and a total of $14.68 billion in crypto assets purchased during the first half of 2026, with a significant share of that amount attributed to stablecoins.

What the 24-hour Delay Means for Users 

The rule requires virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to hold qualifying transfers for up to 24 hours so they can perform additional risk analysis, due diligence, and scrutiny before completion. It is not a “freeze on assets” and transfers are not permanently barred; funds can be released earlier if risks are adequately addressed.

Furthermore, it applies to transfers exceeding $10,000 sent to foreign virtual-asset firms or self-custody wallets, triggered by a single transaction or a customer’s total transfers in one day. Smaller retail transfers are not affected and continue to operate at speed. For instance, if a user is transacting $15,000 in Bitcoin or stablecoins, it can take up to a full day to process.

Could Brazil’s Approach Become a Model Elsewhere? 

Stricter monitoring can make the ecosystem safer by adding a window, which blocks red flags, interrupts scams and increases recovery potential. This law is aimed at the advantage of “quick move” which criminals possess in the market, where stablecoins facilitate instant global transfers. However, delays could lead to decreased convenience for legitimate users and increase costs. 

Meanwhile, it raises the question of whether similar precautionary holds will spread to other jurisdictions seeking to balance fraud prevention with the free movement of assets. Singapore has applied holds or blocks on suspicious digital payments for at least 24 hours, while South Korea has implemented standardized 24–72-hour withdrawal delays to combat voice-phishing and related scams. Brazil’s approach could influence other countries grappling with crypto-enabled fraud, as nations study its results after the 2027 rollout.

Related: Brazil Introduces Sweeping Crypto Rules, Caps Unapproved Transfers at $100K