Brazil now taxes all cryptocurrency gains at a flat 17.5% rate, eliminating previous exemptions. Learn what's taxed, how to report, and how it compares globally.
Cryptocurrency Tax Brazil: What You Owe and How to Stay Legal
When you trade, sell, or earn cryptocurrency, digital assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum used for transactions, investments, or payments. Also known as crypto, it is treated as property under Brazilian law, not currency. That means every time you sell Bitcoin for reais, swap one token for another, or get paid in crypto, you may owe taxes. The Central Bank of Brazil, the nation’s monetary authority that regulates financial institutions and oversees payment systems. doesn’t ban crypto—but it doesn’t protect you either. The Receita Federal, Brazil’s federal revenue service responsible for tax collection and enforcement. does. And they’re watching.
If you made a profit from crypto in 2024, you’re required to report it. No exceptions. Even if you traded between tokens—like swapping ETH for SOL—you triggered a taxable event. The tax rate? It’s progressive, from 15% to 22.5%, depending on how much you earned. You must file monthly if your monthly sales exceed R$35,000. That’s not a suggestion. It’s a legal requirement. And if you don’t report? You could face fines, interest, or worse—your bank accounts could be frozen. Brazil doesn’t have a crypto ban like Nigeria or Tunisia, but they don’t need one. Their tax system already makes it risky to stay silent.
Most people think crypto taxes are only about selling for cash. They’re wrong. Mining rewards, staking income, airdrops, even crypto you receive as payment for freelance work—all of it counts. If you got free tokens from an airdrop and later sold them, that’s taxable. If you earned WNT by running a hotspot, that’s income. If you traded on KyberSwap or CEX.IO and made a profit, you owe. The system doesn’t care if you used a decentralized exchange or a centralized one. The taxman sees the transaction.
You don’t need a fancy accountant. But you do need records. Track every trade: what you bought, when, for how much, and what you sold it for. Use a simple spreadsheet or a free crypto tax tool. Brazil doesn’t require you to submit proof with your return—but if they audit you, you’ll need it. And they audit. Especially if you’re active on exchanges like COINBIG or ARzPaya, or if you’ve traded large amounts through P2P platforms. The data is out there.
This isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity. Brazil’s crypto scene is growing fast—millions trade daily, often using stablecoins to dodge inflation. But if you’re part of that crowd, you’re also part of the tax system. Ignoring it won’t make it disappear. The cryptocurrency tax Brazil rules are clear. The tools to follow them are simple. The choice? Stay compliant, or risk losing more than just a few reais.
Below, you’ll find real cases, common mistakes, and how others in Brazil are handling their crypto taxes—without getting caught off guard.