Mercado Bitcoin review

4.4Last reviewed 2026-08-23

Mercado Bitcoin is the Brazilian exchange that stopped being only an exchange. It has operated since 2013, serves around 4.5 million users, and is the largest crypto platform in Latin America.

What separates it from an offshore platform serving Brazil is the licensing. The Banco Central do Brasil authorised it as a payment institution and electronic money issuer, and it holds broker-dealer, securitisation and asset management permissions on top. That matters more than usual right now: the central bank's virtual asset regime took effect in February 2026, and every platform serving Brazilian clients has until 29 October 2026 to apply for authorisation or stop. A firm already inside the regulated perimeter has less to prove.

Money moves for free. Real deposits and withdrawals carry no platform fee, with a minimum of one real, which is unusual in a market where the exit fee is often where the cost hides. Trading is tiered from 0.015 percent to 0.7 percent by volume, so a small monthly purchase pays near the top of that range and an active trader pays near the bottom.

In July 2026 Tether invested 20 million dollars in the company. Read that as a signal about direction rather than about safety: it is still a custodian, and bitcoin you leave on it is bitcoin someone else holds.

Visit Mercado BitcoinOpens www.mercadobitcoin.com.br

Founded: 2013
Headquarters: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Fees: Trading is tiered from 0.015 percent to 0.7 percent by volume. Real deposits and withdrawals are free, with a one real minimum.
KYC: Required
Payment methods: Pix, TED
Status: Operating

How you can pay on Mercado Bitcoin

Every deposit rail Mercado Bitcoin supports in at least one market.

Domestic bank rail: Pix TED

As published by Mercado Bitcoin: Pix, TED.

Pros and cons

What works

Authorised by the Banco Central do Brasil as a payment institution and electronic money issuer, inside the regulated perimeter before the October 2026 deadline
No platform fee on real deposits or withdrawals, where the cost usually hides in Brazil
Latin America's largest exchange with roughly 4.5 million users, so real order books are the deepest available locally
Trading fees fall to 0.015 percent at volume, among the lowest published in Brazil

What to watch

The tiered schedule means an ordinary monthly buyer pays near the top of the range rather than the headline low
The broader product range, tokenised assets and lending among it, is a distraction if you came only for bitcoin
Custodial until you withdraw, like every exchange on this list

Fees in detail

maker: Tiered from 0.015 percent to 0.7 percent by 30-day volume
taker: Tiered from 0.015 percent to 0.7 percent by 30-day volume
spread note: A small monthly purchase sits near the top of that range; the cheap tiers need volume most personal buyers will not reach.
deposit note: Real deposits by Pix are free, with a minimum of one real.
withdrawal note: Real withdrawals are free, which several Brazilian rivals charge for. Bitcoin withdrawals to self-custody are supported.

Where we recommend Mercado Bitcoin

Countries where Mercado Bitcoin ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.

Brazil

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to buy bitcoin on Mercado Bitcoin?

Trading is tiered from 0.015 percent to 0.7 percent by 30-day volume, so a small monthly purchase pays near the top of that range. Real deposits and withdrawals are free, which is where several Brazilian rivals take their cut instead.

Is Mercado Bitcoin licensed in Brazil?

Yes. The Banco Central do Brasil authorised it as a payment institution and electronic money issuer, and it holds broker-dealer and asset management permissions alongside. Under the central bank's virtual asset regime, every platform serving Brazilian clients must apply for authorisation by 29 October 2026.

Can I fund an account with Pix?

Yes, and it is the standard route. Pix deposits settle in seconds, carry no platform fee, and have a one real minimum.

Why did Tether invest in Mercado Bitcoin?

Tether put 20 million dollars into the company in July 2026 to expand its tokenisation and payments work. It says something about the company's direction and nothing about whether your bitcoin is safer on an exchange than in a wallet you control.