Brazilian payment app PicPay launches crypto exchange with Paxos

Major Brazilian payment application PicPay is moving into cryptocurrencies by integrating a crypto exchange service allowing users to buy Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).

The firm officially announced on Wednesday that PicPay clients can now buy, sell and store two major cryptocurrencies, BTC or ETH, directly on its app. PicPay pointed out that its choice was due to the real use cases provided by these digital assets, including security and many other benefits. The firm stated:

“Blockchain technology, which is behind coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, is already used in the real estate sector, the insurance industry and even the art market, through non-fungible tokens.”

The new crypto feature is enabled through a partnership with the major crypto company Paxos and allows customers to use Paxos-issued U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin USDP. Acting as a broker and custodian, Paxos is known for cooperating with some of the world’s biggest traditional financial firms like PayPal and Venmo.

The integration marks the first move for PicPay to introduce its 30 million customers with digital assets and help them understand how people can benefit from the potential of the growing asset class. The Brazilian fintech app is working on a feature to allow their clients to pay with crypto as well.

“PicPay is one of the most disruptive players in payments in Brazil, and our goal is to lead the growth of the crypto market,” PicPay’s head of crypto Bruno Gregory said. One of the major challenges associated with crypto adoption is eliminating its complexity by expanding information about the technology so that everyone can take advantage of the new asset class, he added.

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Cryptocurrency adoption in Brazil has been taking off recently, with major local crypto companies like Mercado Bitcoin actively expanding operations. Local lawmakers have been working to introduce crypto-friendly regulation, initiating a bill to legalize crypto payments in June 2022.