Brazilian Central Bank Adds Crypto Exchange Mercado Bitcoin in CBDC Pilot Including Mastercard

Andrés Engler

Updated 23 June 2023 at 4:27 pm·2-min read

Brazil’s central bank authorized on Thursday the largest local crypto exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, to participate in the pilot of the digital real, the South American country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC).

The consortium led by Mercado Bitcoin counts Mastercard, broker Genial, registrar Cerc and financial software fintech Sinqia as partners, local newspaper Valor reported.

Also on Thursday, the central bank gave its green light to state-owned Brazilian bank Caixa to participate in its CBDC pilot, along with card provider Elo and Microsoft.

Mercado Bitcoin had been left out of the central bank’s choice of 14 participants in late May because the consortium lacked at least one regulated financial or payment institution with direct access to Brazil's national financial network. That changed after Mercado Bitcoin received the payment institution license from the central bank, on 2 June.

“Our participation validates the Central Bank's intention to bring innovation to the financial system with those who have already been working with this technology and not just with the incumbents who have appropriated it,” said Fabricio Tota, director of new business at Mercado Bitcoin, Valor added.

“We are pleased to be part of the consortium selected to join the Real Digital pilot in Brazil. Mastercard continues to engage in a series of partnerships to build trust and compliance in the digital assets ecosystem, while also solving real-world problems,” Walter Pimenta, executive vice president of Products and Engineering at Mastercard Latin America and the Caribbean, told CoinDesk in a statement.

The central bank will begin incorporating participants into the Real Digital Pilot platform in mid-June 2023. According to Glovo, the consortium intends to participate in testing the issuance of the CBDC and treasury bills, and will seek to test technical aspects of the network and the governance model of the distributed ledger technology.

The CBDC is slated to be rolled out by 2024 by the central bank, which sees a digital currency as a way of increasing participation in the financial system.

NextShark
16-year-old Chinese boy beat with iron rod on New Zealand bus
On Friday morning, during the Maori New Year public holiday, a 16-year-old teen named Jason was brutally attacked on an Auckland bus by a woman wielding an iron rod. The assailant, described as a Maori woman “more than 200 kilograms," hit Jason multiple times and stabbed him in the face, knocking out five of his teeth, on board the bus after having allegedly shouted "ch*nk" at him at Johns Lane stop. Man intervenes: A 75-year-old Chinese man, Penglai Qiuyue, intervened and managed to grab the weapon, though he was also injured in the process.
Malay Mail
Abused husky rescued after viral video, owner files police report demanding his dog back (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 3 — A viral video showing a man beating his dog, a husky, while his other, smaller dog cowered in a c...
Malay Mail
As AG stays silent, Rosmah presses on with bid to strike out money laundering and tax evasion charges
KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's money laundering and tax evasion trial proceeded today despite the lac...
The Telegraph
Michelle Obama the only Biden alternative who would beat Trump
The only prospective candidate who could beat Donald Trump in the presidential election is Michelle Obama, according to a new poll.
HuffPost
Death Of Teenage Badminton Star Prompts Outrage Over Delayed Medical Response
Video from the incident shows tournament officials watching Chinese athlete Zhang Zhijie for around 40 seconds before medical help arrives.
Malay Mail
Tour bus driver in fatal Genting crash claims trial to reckless driving causing death, and having no valid licence
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — S. Anand Kumar, the Malaysian man behind the wheel of the tour bus that overturned and killed two...
Malay Mail
Singapore’s new S$20,000 cash declaration rules: What Malaysians need to know
Singapore has implemented new regulations since May requiring all travellers to declare cash exceeding S$20,000 (RM69...
The Telegraph
The world must prepare for President Michelle Obama
The 2024 US Presidential race intensifies. Speculation abounds over potential replacements for President Joe Biden amid increasing pressure from his party and the media to step aside after a jaw-dropping, catastrophic debate against Donald Trump last week. Among the names circulating, a game-changer is emerging: Michelle Obama. Could this be America’s worst nightmare?
Malay Mail
In court, Mais and Hindu family agree man won’t be reburied according to Islamic rites; next-of-kin to inherit assets
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — A court dispute between the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and a Hindu family was sett...
People
Dua Lipa Goes Instagram Official with Boyfriend Callum Turner After Months of Romance Rumors
The pop singer posted a cozied-up photo with the British actor on Instagram from the Glastonbury Festival this past weekend
Bloomberg
These flight routes suffer the world’s worst turbulence
A series of incidents that left scores of airline passengers needing medical attention has shone a spotlight on the problem of severe in-flight turbulence.
People
Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Her Abs in White Crop Top and Baggy Jeans During N.Y.C. Outing
Lopez was spotted wearing her wedding ring with the casual attire
The Telegraph
Hindu priest sexually abused hundreds of followers, High Court hears
A woman accusing a religious leader of exploiting and sexually abusing her told the High Court he has done it to “hundreds” of his followers over the last 40 years.
The Guardian
Video appears to show gang-rape of Afghan woman in a Taliban jail
Activist claims she was threatened with release of the footage in order to silence her, amid multiple reports of sexual violence inflicted upon imprisoned Afghan women
The Telegraph
Martina Navratilova hits out at ‘regressive’ campaign featuring rugby players in lingerie
Martina Navratilova has led a backlash against a “regressive” campaign featuring Team GB’s Olympic rugby players in lingerie.
Malay Mail
What you should know about: Malaysia’s proposed ‘lemon law’ for cars
Malaysia is proposing a so-called “lemon law” that would provide vehicle buyers in the country more protection against f...
Entertainment Weekly
Victoria and David Beckham rewear purple wedding outfits to celebrate 25th anniversary: 'Look what we found'
The soccer star and Spice Girls singer married July 4, 1999.
The Daily Beast
Daughter, Zara Tindall, ‘Shaken to the Core’ by Princess Anne’s Amnesia
Zara Tindall has been left “shaken to the core” by her mother Princess Anne’s mystery encounter with a horse which left her with a brain injury that has resulted in amnesia, according to a report.OK! Magazine says that Zara, 43, has been left freaked out by the incident which saw Anne, 73, also known as The Princess Royal, struck by a horse while she was out walking, alone, on Sunday, June 23, at her home, Gatcombe Park, in the Cotswolds.She was treated at the scene and then hospitalized for fiv
HuffPost
Van Jones Reveals ‘Behind The Scenes’ Moves That Could End Biden Campaign
The CNN commentator detailed the “big conversation” taking place right now among Democratic insiders.
People
Victoria and David Beckham Slip Back into Their Iconic Purple Wedding Outfits to Celebrate 25th Anniversary
The couple got married on July 4, 1999

Latest stories