Mercado Bitcoin
Mercado Bitcoin
Mercado Bitcoin is a Brazilian exchange registered as a Payment Institution with the Banco Central, offering instant PIX payments and a $2.1B valuation backed by SoftBank. Its main limitation is its exclusive focus on Brazil and exposure to the volatility of the real (BRL).
Data & conditions
| Maker / Taker fee | 0.3% / 0.7% |
|---|---|
| Markets | Spot |
| Max leverage | 1× |
| Supported assets | 250+ |
| Trading pairs | 500+ |
| Fiat on-ramp | Yes |
| Deposit methods | Pix, TED, Bonifico bancario BRL |
| Staking / Earn | Staking, liquidity pool, fixed-income products |
| Fund custody | Custodial (platform holds funds) |
| KYC | Full |
| Supported countries | LATAM · 1+ countries |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) |
| OAM Italy registration | No |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | BCB Brasile Payment Institution (Banco Central Brasil) |
Strengths
- Payment Institution (Banco Central); PIX istantaneo; $2,1B valutazione SoftBank.
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- Only Brazil; volatility BRL.
- Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
- Subject to regulation (Payment Institution (Banco Central Brasil)): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.
Verdict
Registration as a Payment Institution with the Banco Central, instant PIX payments and a $2.1B valuation backed by SoftBank give Mercado Bitcoin a solidity that places it at the top of its tier. The main brake is its single-market exposure: it operates only in Brazil, and the real's volatility exposes users to non-trivial currency risk, while the 0.7% taker fee stays high.
The regulated Payment Institution status that is Mercado Bitcoin's strength on the consumer side becomes the opposite signal here: full integration into the traditional payment system, centralized custody and mandatory KYC. There is no self-custody, privacy or on-chain component. For anyone seeking sovereignty over their funds there is essentially nothing to value.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
What are Mercado Bitcoin's fees?
On Mercado Bitcoin, spot fees are maker 0.3% / taker 0.7%. They drop with monthly volume and VIP tier.
Is Mercado Bitcoin regulated in Europe?
Regulatory status of Mercado Bitcoin: Payment Institution (Banco Central Brasil). Licence: BCB Brasile.
Does Mercado Bitcoin publish Proof of Reserves?
Proof of Reserves publication is not documented for Mercado Bitcoin. No third-party reserve audit is documented. Reserve transparency is a critical factor after the FTX collapse.
Can I send transfers to third-party IBANs from Mercado Bitcoin?
No, Mercado Bitcoin is an exchange and does not allow transfers to third-party IBANs: fiat withdrawals return to a bank account in your own name.
Does Mercado Bitcoin support derivatives and futures?
Mercado Bitcoin does not offer derivatives: it focuses on spot trading.
Sources
- Official service page Maker/taker fees · Regulatory framework · Derivatives Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- businesswire.com Corporate site · Stock ticker · Stock listing · IPO date Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- consultasocio.com Company type Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- econodata.com.br Legal name Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
Show 9 more sources
- facebook.com Deposit methods Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- fintech.global Valuation · Investors Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- ledgerinsights.com Latest funding round Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- organismo-am.it OAM Italy registry Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- crunchbase.com Founders Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- pt.trustpilot.com Trustpilot reviews Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- rfp.wiki Trading pairs Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- tradersunion.com Volume data Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- tradingfinder.com Staking & Earn · Geographic availability · Past incidents · Max leverage Data verified on Jun 13, 2026