A surprising statement came from Pedro Giocondo Guerra, a senior advisor to the Vice President of Brazil. He said that Bitcoin is not just an ordinary digital asset but can be the key to national prosperity. In his view, Bitcoin deserves to be a national strategic reserve.
BREAKING:
BRAZIL GOVERNMENT SAYS #BITCOIN RESERVE IS CRUCIAL FOR NATIONAL PROSPERITY.
CONGRESS ALREADY HAS AN ACTIVE BILL TO ALLOCATE 5% OF RESERVES IN BTC.
IT’S HAPPENING!
— Crypto Rover (@rovercrc) March 29, 2025
Brazil’s Blueprint for a Bitcoin Reserve
Furthermore, support for this idea does not come from just one direction. Previously, council member Eros Biondini had also submitted a draft law that aims to create the so-called “Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve” or RESBit. The idea is somewhat audacious: 5% of the foreign exchange reserves of the nation are moved into Bitcoin. Of course, not every wallet transfer. Using blockchain technology integrated with artificial intelligence, the Central Bank of Brazil will run this fund. This concept seems to be a combination of technocrat and visionary.
But here’s where it gets interesting—because Brazil is starting to think of a future with new languages like code and cryptography.
Turning Paychecks Into Crypto Payments
On the other hand, Brazil is also testing the boundaries of its wage system. On March 17, 2025, the National Congress approved a bill that would allow salaries to be paid in Bitcoin and other cryptos. The bill, proposed by Luiz Phillipe of Orleans-Braganza, would allow up to 50% of workers’ salaries to be paid in digital assets.
For context, imagine someone in Brazil receiving half their salary in Bitcoin and then using it to pay for everyday expenses. A scenario that once existed only in online forums is slowly becoming a reality.
Less SWIFT, More Sovereignty in Payments
However, these moves are not just technological romanticism. CNF has previously reported that as this year’s BRICS president, Brazil is advancing a new digital payments system to reduce its reliance on Western financial systems like SWIFT. The project is inspired by Pix—Brazil’s own fast payments platform—and aims to create direct cross-border transactions that don’t rely on the US dollar. This is not about being anti-Western, but rather about creating new, fairer, and more efficient options for developing countries.
Brazil Breaks Ground With XRP Spot ETF
To illustrate how serious they are about embracing crypto, let’s look at what happened last February. Brazil made history by becoming the first country to approve an XRP Spot ETF. The ETF, owned by Hashdex, was approved by the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) and immediately listed on Brazil’s B3 exchange. This decision was not only big news in the crypto industry but also marked Brazil’s courage to embrace new technology formally and legally. A crypto ETF in a South American country? A few years ago, this would have seemed absurd.
So, is Brazil just trying things out, or is it really ready to leap into the future? Just look at the combination of steps taken, such as plans to hold Bitcoin as foreign exchange reserves, legalizing salary payments with digital assets, encouraging the development of cross-border payment systems, and paving the way for crypto ETFs. All of this adds up to a pretty clear pattern—Brazil no longer views digital assets as merely frivolous or volatile.