# Latin America Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Latin America", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Latin America's Payments Landscape Is Not What You Think It Is

This report challenges common misconceptions about Latin America's payment landscape, based on over 500 hours of firsthand research. Key findings include: 1) Crypto card transaction volume primarily comes from high-net-worth individuals receiving USDT salaries, not retail spending. 2) QR code payments (e.g., Brazil's Pix, Argentina's Mercado Pago) are the dominant payment method across most emerging markets, not cards. 3) A major untapped opportunity lies in enabling cross-border interoperability between domestic instant payment systems. 4) Payment competition is shifting from customer acquisition to owning the settlement layer (e.g., acquiring banks). 5) Latin America is not a single market; Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and smaller "forgotten five" countries (e.g., Guatemala, Honduras) have vastly different dynamics. 6) Stablecoin-to-fiat conversion margins are collapsing toward zero, pushing companies to build value-added services on top. 7) Future payment winners will be multi-country brands, not single-corridor specialists. 8) Marketing must target specific user segments (e.g., digital nomads, unbanked immigrants) with tailored messaging, not a generic "Brazilian" audience. 9) Contrary to perception, Latin American regulators are often ahead of the US in creating frameworks for digital assets and instant payments, with clear licensing deadlines. The core takeaway is that the region's payment rules are being rewritten, moving beyond cards and stablecoin arbitrage towards integrated, cross-border QR-based solutions.

链捕手6h ago

Latin America's Payments Landscape Is Not What You Think It Is

链捕手6h ago

US Capital Bets Big on Latin America: Wagering Not on Growth, but on the 'Key Nodes' of the Financial System

U.S. capital is increasingly investing in Latin America, focusing not on traditional growth but on controlling key nodes in the financial system. The region’s financial friction—high inflation, costly cross-border payments, and underdeveloped banking infrastructure—has created strong demand for digital payment and dollarized solutions. Stablecoins like USDC and USDT are being used to facilitate low-cost remittances, hedge against currency devaluation, and enable faster enterprise transactions. For instance, in Argentina, users leverage stablecoins for arbitrage amid tight currency controls, while in Mexico, families receive remittances via WhatsApp in minutes at under 1% cost. Major players like Visa are acquiring local payment platforms, and venture firms like ARQ are building bridges between traditional banking and crypto-based systems. With high digital payment adoption but persistent gaps in cross-border and dollar services, Latin America offers both proven demand and growth potential. However, the market requires deep local expertise and regulatory navigation, making it a complex but high-value opportunity for those who can build scalable, compliant financial infrastructure.

marsbit03/19 08:03

US Capital Bets Big on Latin America: Wagering Not on Growth, but on the 'Key Nodes' of the Financial System

marsbit03/19 08:03

Financing Weekly Report | 11 Public Financing Events, Latin American Financial App ARQ Focused on Stablecoins Completes $70 Million Financing

PANews Weekly Funding Roundup (Mar 2-8): 11 Funding Deals, Totaling Over $184M This week saw 11 disclosed funding events in the blockchain sector. Key highlights include: **DeFi:** - OmniPact, a decentralized protocol for P2P transactions, secured $50M in private funding. - QFEX raised $9.5M in a seed round for its 24/7 high-leverage RWA trading platform. - Sats Terminal received a strategic investment from Gate Ventures. **Web3 & AI:** - AI Agent yield protocol Superpower completed an undisclosed pre-seed round. **Infrastructure & Tools:** - Cyclops raised $8M to develop stablecoin payment infrastructure. - Decentralized cloud storage provider Akave secured $6.65M. - Bitcoin USDT infrastructure project Utexo completed a $7.5M round. - Pre-confirmation network Interstate raised $1.5M. **CeFi:** - Latin American stablecoin-focused app ARQ (formerly DolarApp) raised $70M with participation from Sequoia and Founders Fund. - Digital asset trading firm Crossover raised $31M in a Series B round led by Tradeweb. *Note: Two major funding rounds for AI procurement firm Lio ($30M) and robotics company Neura Robotics (~$1B) were reported but excluded from the official count.*

marsbit03/09 03:12

Financing Weekly Report | 11 Public Financing Events, Latin American Financial App ARQ Focused on Stablecoins Completes $70 Million Financing

marsbit03/09 03:12

Brazil Considers Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as El Salvador Expands Digital Asset Adoption

El Salvador, Brazil, and Argentina are adopting distinct approaches to cryptocurrency regulation. El Salvador has partnered with Corporacion Infinito and Stakiny on a $100 million project to tokenize private company shares, enabling global investment through a blockchain-based system. Brazil is reviewing a bill to establish a Sovereign Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (RESBit), allowing the government to allocate up to 5% of its foreign reserves to Bitcoin and offer tax exemptions on crypto earnings. In contrast, Argentina has withdrawn a proposal permitting salary payments in digital wallets, reflecting caution amid persistent inflation and currency instability. These divergent strategies highlight varying levels of crypto adoption across Latin America as governments explore digital assets for economic growth and financial stability.

TheNewsCrypto02/18 14:11

Brazil Considers Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as El Salvador Expands Digital Asset Adoption

TheNewsCrypto02/18 14:11

Wintermute Ventures: Return to Fundamentals, Cognitive Reset After Attending Hong Kong Consensus

Wintermute Ventures attended Hong Kong Consensus and observed a clear shift toward cautious market sentiment, with few confident about the next major crypto trend. Key takeaways include: a lack of near-term catalysts, capital rotation into AI stocks (especially in Asia), and an identity crisis for altcoins beyond major assets—tokens are no longer seen as reliable value-accrual mechanisms. Opportunities are shifting toward fundamentals: revenue-generating, licensed businesses with defensive moats. Latin America emerged as a region with strong product-market fit and regulatory progress. Despite the cooling mood, the reset is seen as healthy, pushing founders toward real users and sustainable design.

marsbit02/18 08:56

Wintermute Ventures: Return to Fundamentals, Cognitive Reset After Attending Hong Kong Consensus

marsbit02/18 08:56

Colombia Pension Giant Takes First Step Into Bitcoin – Details

Colombia's second-largest private pension fund, AFP Protección, is launching a new product allowing qualified savers to gain exposure to Bitcoin. The offering is limited to investors who meet specific risk profiles and complete a tailored advisory process. It is designed as a long-term diversification tool, not for short-term speculation, and will be a small, optional addition to core portfolios focused on traditional assets. With around $55 billion in assets under management, the firm emphasizes the product is measured and compliant with Colombia’s tightening crypto regulations. This move aligns with a broader regional trend of institutional crypto experimentation in Latin America.

bitcoinist01/26 11:32

Colombia Pension Giant Takes First Step Into Bitcoin – Details

bitcoinist01/26 11:32

Revolut Seeks Full Banking Licence in Peru to Expand Latin America Push

Revolut has applied for a full banking license in Peru to expand its Latin American operations. If approved, the UK-based digital bank will operate as a fully regulated lender, offering localized banking products and competing directly with established banks. Peru's financial system is highly concentrated, with the top four banks holding 82% of all loans. Revolut sees an opportunity to increase competition and improve access, particularly for underserved users. Remittances are a key focus, as one million Peruvians rely on money sent from abroad. The move is part of Revolut's broader strategy, which has seen strong growth in crypto services and record profits in 2024.

TheNewsCrypto01/20 11:13

Revolut Seeks Full Banking Licence in Peru to Expand Latin America Push

TheNewsCrypto01/20 11:13

Alibaba Invested in a Latin American Stablecoin Company, Why VelaFi?

VelaFi, a financial infrastructure platform focused on Latin America and bridging fiat and crypto, has raised $20 million in a Series B round, bringing its total funding to over $40 million. Notably, the investment round included participation from Alibaba Investment, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. Alibaba's investment is strategic, as VelaFi's stablecoin-based infrastructure enables instant, low-cost cross-border settlements. This addresses key pain points of high fees and slow processing times, aligning with Alibaba's goals for its AliExpress and B2B platforms in emerging markets. The funding was co-led by XVC and Ikuyo, with participation from other firms. VelaFi, part of Galactic Holdings and led by CEO Maggie Wu, was formerly known as TruBit Business. It has expanded from Latin America into the U.S. and Asia, serving hundreds of enterprise clients and processing billions in transaction volume. VelaFi's core B2B model focuses on two main services: providing regulated on/off ramps for converting between local fiat and stablecoins, and facilitating cross-border payments by converting one local currency directly into another (e.g., Mexican Pesos to Brazilian Reals). It achieves this by integrating with local instant payment systems like Mexico's SPEI and Brazil's PIX, using stablecoins as a settlement layer to create a faster, more efficient alternative to traditional banking channels.

marsbit01/14 10:40

Alibaba Invested in a Latin American Stablecoin Company, Why VelaFi?

marsbit01/14 10:40

Colombia Tightens Crypto Tax Reporting as New OECD-Aligned Rules Take Effect

Colombia's tax authority (DIAN) has implemented new regulations requiring crypto exchanges, brokers, and intermediaries to collect and report detailed user data. The rules, issued under Resolution 000240, apply to transactions starting in 2026, with the first reports due by May 2027. Both domestic and foreign platforms serving Colombian residents must comply. The mandated information includes user identities, transaction volumes, values, and net crypto balances. The policy shifts responsibility from user self-reporting to mandatory platform reporting, aligning with the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework. Its primary goals are to combat tax evasion and increase transparency by treating crypto assets similarly to traditional financial instruments. Non-compliant platforms face fines of up to 1% of the undeclared transaction value, marking a significant reduction in crypto privacy within the country.

TheNewsCrypto01/09 15:44

Colombia Tightens Crypto Tax Reporting as New OECD-Aligned Rules Take Effect

TheNewsCrypto01/09 15:44

GOAT Network and DitoBanx Launch Bitcoin Self-Custody Yield Pilot in Mexico, Reaching Over 100,000 Users

GOAT Network has partnered with Latin American fintech platform DitoBanx to launch a pilot program for Bitcoin self-custody yield in Mexico, reaching over 100,000 users. The initiative introduces GOAT's white-label product, Safebox, within DitoBanx's regulated mobile app. This non-custodial solution allows users to earn Bitcoin-denominated yields without transferring asset custody or participating in lending schemes. Unlike traditional yield models that rely on centralized custody or credit-based mechanisms, Safebox offers principal protection and is powered by GOAT Network’s decentralized sequencer rewards. Users retain full control of their Bitcoin private keys while earning a 1.5% annualized yield over a three-month pilot period. The collaboration combines DitoBanx’s regulated onboarding, fiat rails, and user-friendly interface with a structurally distinct yield mechanism, reducing counterparty risk. The pilot aims to enhance Bitcoin-based financial accessibility in Latin America and may expand to other markets where DitoBanx operates. This model represents a potential evolution for Bitcoin savings products, balancing regulatory compliance with self-sovereign asset control.

marsbit01/06 01:57

GOAT Network and DitoBanx Launch Bitcoin Self-Custody Yield Pilot in Mexico, Reaching Over 100,000 Users

marsbit01/06 01:57

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