Brazil’s Special Department of Federal Revenue is taking steps to enforce compliance with local regulations by collecting information from foreign crypto exchanges. The tax department will be closely monitoring how these exchanges interact with local service providers and whether they are meeting the requirements set forth in regulations implemented in 2019.
Deputy Secretary of Inspection Andrea Chaves expressed concerns about potential illegal activities taking place within foreign exchanges operating in Brazil. The tax department is looking to gather information on Brazilian wealth that should be subject to taxes as part of their efforts to ensure compliance.
Unlike local Brazilian exchanges, foreign companies are not currently required to report their transactions. Some of the well-known foreign exchanges operating in Brazil, such as Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and KuCoin, are expected to be summoned by the tax department to provide the necessary information to comply with regulations.
Recent data from the tax department shows a significant increase in the reported amounts of crypto assets by individuals and legal entities in Brazil. In the first half of 2023, a total of 133.6 billion reals ($24.6 billion) worth of crypto were declared, with 14.5 billion reals ($2.7 billion) coming from foreign exchanges. This represents substantial growth compared to the previous year.
Brazil’s tax department is planning to release updated data through a technological update to provide more transparency and insight into the crypto market in the country. Third-party data also indicates significant growth in the crypto trading volume involving the Brazilian real, with Brazil emerging as the largest crypto market in Latin America and the seventh-largest fiat currency market globally.
Brazil’s efforts to regulate and monitor foreign crypto exchanges are aimed at ensuring compliance with local laws and preventing illegal activities within the crypto market. The increased reporting requirements and scrutiny from the tax department are expected to have a significant impact on the operations of foreign exchanges operating in the country. As the crypto market continues to grow, regulatory oversight and enforcement will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry in Brazil.
