Sebastian Serrano, CEO of Ripio, a major cryptocurrency exchange in Latin America, reveals that Brazilian companies are leveraging cryptocurrency to pay their Chinese suppliers. In an interview, Serrano outlines diverse use cases for crypto in Latin America, including Argentine companies using it to combat inflation.
Cryptocurrency Integration in Brazilian, Chinese, and Argentine Economies
Serrano affirms that crypto is integrated into the regular payment processes of Brazilian and Chinese companies. He discloses that numerous Brazilian firms are utilizing cryptocurrency to settle payments for goods sourced from China.
Additionally, Argentine companies are turning to cryptocurrency as a safeguard against the country's rampant inflation. Serrano also highlights its role in facilitating remittances between the U.S. and Mexico.
Serrano envisions a future where cryptocurrencies play a pivotal role in capital markets, predicting that companies will increasingly seek financing through blockchain-based means.
Serrano told Valor Economico that he also believed that the future of cryptocurrency was linked to its use in capital markets. He stated:
In the coming years, we will see companies start to finance themselves with cryptocurrencies. The capital markets of the future will be based on blockchain.
Ripio's Expansion and Diversification Strategy: From Retail Trading to Institutional Services
Ripio has experienced growth since 2022, expanding into key markets such as Colombia and the U.S. While retail trading fees remain their primary revenue source, Serrano plans to diversify by introducing payment and tokenization services tailored for institutions. New savings and loan products are also on the horizon to stabilize income.
Serrano believes that corporate adoption will significantly impact revenue streams for exchanges. He anticipates that if cryptocurrencies become mainstream for institutions, they could represent up to 80% of Ripio's revenue by the decade's end.
Sebastian Serrano, CEO of Ripio, observes the increasing adoption of cryptocurrency in Brazil for payments to Chinese suppliers and in Argentina as a hedge against inflation. He anticipates significant growth in institutional adoption and revenue diversification for Ripio in the future.