Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America’s largest digital assets platform, is accelerating its push into Europe with a €50mn investment programme centred on Portugal, underscoring the country’s growing appeal as a regulated hub for cryptocurrency activity.
The São Paulo-based group said the capital will support new product development, technological upgrades and the creation of infrastructure to facilitate the flow of funds between European markets and Brazil. The initiative forms part of the company’s ambition to rank among Europe’s ten largest fintechs by the end of the decade.
The move comes as Portugal continues to carve out a distinctive position in Europe’s digital assets landscape. According to industry data, 43 per cent of Portuguese investors hold cryptoassets, almost twice the EU average of 22 per cent, reflecting enthusiasm among both retail savers and a fast-growing community of technology entrepreneurs.
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The government’s introduction of new crypto legislation in October 2025 further reinforced this trajectory, aligning Portugal’s framework with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA).
Portugal’s cryptocurrency ambitions
Lisbon’s updated rules strengthen scrutiny of crypto transactions, broaden anti-money laundering requirements and oblige service providers to secure licences and ongoing supervision from the Bank of Portugal and the securities regulator, the CMVM. The overhaul was widely interpreted as a sign that Portugal intends to position itself not merely as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction, but as a mainstream financial centre with clear rules for digital asset activity.
Mercado Bitcoin’s expansion strategy leans heavily on this regulatory footing. The company, already licensed by the Bank of Portugal and awaiting approval for its formal MiCA authorisation, is rolling out a suite of products for Portuguese clients, including access to more than 450 cryptocurrencies as well as digital fixed-income instruments that have gained traction among Brazilian users. Executives argue that the breadth of its offering differentiates it from newer entrants targeting only speculative trading.
Cross-border payments for Brazilian diaspora
Among the company’s flagship initiatives is a cross-border payments product designed to serve the large Brazilian diaspora in Europe and Europeans with ongoing financial ties to Brazil. The service uses stablecoins to enable near-instant transfers that settle via Brazil’s Pix system, sidestepping the IOF financial transaction tax typically charged on overseas remittances. Mercado Bitcoin says the product reflects rising demand for lower-cost transfers between the two regions, particularly among small businesses and freelance workers.
To strengthen its foothold among wealthier clients, the company is launching MB One Internacional, a dedicated channel for private investors that will allow account management in both Brazil and Portugal. The business hopes the service will appeal to families and entrepreneurs with assets spread across the two jurisdictions, offering a bundled platform for digital investments and cross-border wealth planning.
Alongside its product build-out, Mercado Bitcoin plans to step up its participation in Portugal’s technology and financial sectors through local partnerships, sponsorships and industry events. Executives say the initiatives are intended to embed the company more deeply into the country’s innovation ecosystem at a time when Europe is tightening standards and seeking to attract credible operators.
“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 Bitcoin 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.”
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