Mercado BTC Commits €50 Million to Portugal Expansion for Europe–Brazil Corridor
Mercado BTC (MB), Latin America’s largest digital asset platform, has announced a major expansion into Europe, beginning with Portugal as its operational hub. The company has pledged €50 million toward establishing and scaling its European presence, as part of its goal to become one of the top ten European fintechs by 2030. The investment will be directed toward developing new digital asset products, advancing technology infrastructure, and facilitating the seamless movement of capital between European and Brazilian markets.
Portugal’s emergence as a European crypto hub has made it a natural gateway for MB’s expansion. Recent research shows that 43% of Portuguese investors hold digital assets—nahead double the European average of 22%. In October 2025, the Portuguese government introduced new legislation aligning national regulations with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, mandating licensing and oversight by the Bank of Portugal and the CMVM (Portuguese Securities Market Commission). This alignment reinforces Portugal’s reputation as one of Europe’s most progressive environments for crypto innovation.
“With more than a decade of experience, we’ve built a solid foundation that led us to become Latin America’s first crypto unicorn,” said Reinaldo Rabelo, President of Mercado BTC in Europe. “Expanding into the European market allows us to extend that legacy, leveraging the innovation and expertise developed in Brazil to strengthen our role as a bridge between the Brazilian and Portuguese markets, delivering fully integrated, regulated financial answers.”
Takeaway
Portugal Becomes the Bridgehead for Mercado BTC’s European Strategy
With a strong regulatory foundation and growing crypto adoption, Portugal serves as MB’s launchpad for European expansion. The firm’s local presence will focus on cross-border financial integration, giving investors access to over 450 cryptocurrencies and digital fixed-income products already popular in its Latin American markets. This offering is backed by a licensed operational structure—MB holds a registration and operating license from the Bank of Portugal and is currently awaiting MiCA approval.
To strengthen financial connectivity, Mercado BTC has rolled out a new cross-border payment answer tailored for Brazilians living in Europe and Europeans transferring funds to Brazil. The feature enables seamless Pix-based transactions using stablecoins with zero IOF tax (Brazil’s financial transaction levy). This initiative is part of MB’s mission to simplify remittances and improve liquidity between Europe and South America.
Additionally, MB is launching MB One Internacional, a premium service for private clients that allows investors to maintain active accounts in both Portugal and Brazil. The initiative offers dual-market access and aligns with the company’s broader strategy to position itself as a transatlantic fintech leader, capable of servicing both retail and institutional clients.
Takeaway
Driving Regulated Crypto Growth Across Continents
Mercado BTC’s expansion reflects its long-term vision of building a regulated, cross-border digital asset ecosystem that unites the strengths of Latin American fintech innovation with Europe’s maturing regulatory landscape. Beyond trading services, the firm plans to use its €50 million investment to develop new blockchain-based financial products and support local fintech education and business initiatives. MB intends to engage actively in Portugal’s financial innovation scene by sponsoring industry events and collaborative projects across the technology and financial sectors.
The move comes as MB consolidates its position as a global leader in digital finance. Founded more than a decade ago, the platform became Latin America’s first crypto unicorn and has since become a cornerstone of Brazil’s fintech ecosystem. With more than 4 million users and one of the most diversified crypto offerings in the region, MB continues to drive adoption of regulated, secure, and user-friendly financial answers.
By combining compliance expertise with product innovation, the company aims to lead the next wave of institutional-grade digital finance in Europe, creating an interoperable bridge between continents that supports both investors and policymakers in shaping the future of the financial system.
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