Itaú formalizes crypto trading, offers 15 assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum

This formalization, which includes offering fifteen different digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, is set to potentially accelerate the mainstream acceptance of crypto and fundamentally alter the financial terrain. The bank moved its crypto desk from an experimental division into its main operational structure.

The move was cemented after Itaú submitted a notification to the Central Bank of Brazil on October 27, 2026, successfully beating the October 30, 2026 compliance deadline established for existing service providers. This timely filing allowed Itaú to utilize a streamlined procedure intended for established financial institutions, bypassing the need for the extensive licensing reserved for dedicated virtual-asset service providers. Under these updated guidelines, authorized institutions are permitted to engage in brokerage-category activities without acquiring the complete authorization required by standalone crypto firms.

While the bank had previously introduced its crypto services back in December 2023, meaning the offering wasn't entirely new, what has changed is its legal standing. The service now operates within the scope of Brazil's updated regulatory framework, moving it out of the previously ambiguous territory. Itaú's platform supports trading across 15 digital assets, featuring Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and the USDC stablecoin, allowing customers to begin trading with as little as R$10. Furthermore, the bank manages custody internally; rather than outsourcing this function to another entity, Itaú holds the assets directly.

Senior executive Guto Antunes at Itaú stressed that client security remains a top priority for the crypto service. Bank leadership has also presented this undertaking as the construction of a robust structure that could benefit the wider crypto industry. Despite this expansion, Itaú has refrained from releasing figures detailing the volume of customers or the total amount traded through the service.

Brazil itself is not a minor player in the digital asset sphere. Data from the tax authority indicates that Brazilians engaged in R$505.5 billion worth of digital asset transactions throughout 2025. Itaú is not operating in isolation in pursuit of this surging interest, as major rivals like Nubank are also broadening their crypto investment options in response to the growing public appetite for digital asset investing.

Why it matters

This formalization signals a major shift toward mainstream institutional acceptance of crypto in Brazil. As major banks legitimize offerings, it could accelerate broader adoption across the region. Keep an eye on how competitors like Nubank respond to this regulatory clarity.