Itaú Unibanco has notified Brazil’s central bank of its crypto trading and custody activities, according to Valor Econômico, bringing an existing service into the country’s new regulatory framework.
The notification was made on October 27. Itaú has offered crypto trading since December 2023, so the step concerns oversight by the central bank rather than the launch of a new product.
Existing service enters new framework
Itaú’s notification covers helping customers buy and sell cryptoassets, as well as holding those assets on their behalf. Those activities fall within the brokerage category defined by Brazil’s rules, Valor reported.
Because Itaú is already authorized to operate as a financial institution, it used a notification process. Dedicated crypto service providers must instead apply for operating authorization. The report said Itaú notified the regulator of its activities, not that it received a separate crypto license.
Customers could already trade through the bank
The bank’s records show that its crypto trading began on December 4, 2023. It initially offered Bitcoin and Ethereum and held the assets for customers.
Its current materials list 15 cryptoassets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and the dollar-linked stablecoin USDC. Customers can also buy and sell through the bank’s app.
Guto Antunes, Itaú’s head of digital assets, said clear rules and strong security and governance standards benefit the industry and consumers.
Brazil expands oversight of crypto providers
The central bank’s framework extends requirements covering customer protection, transparency, financial-crime prevention, governance and security to crypto service providers. The rules came into effect in February 2026.
A later amendment moved a separate restriction on financial institutions dealing with “unauthorized crypto providers” to November 6.
Itaú’s notification is a move toward that transition to formal supervision.
