Brazil’s Receita Federal Increases Scrutiny on Foreign Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Brazil’s tax authority, Receita Federal, plans to intensify its oversight of foreign cryptocurrency exchanges operating within the country. This move aims to enhance regulation and transparency amid the rising use of digital assets in Latin America’s largest economy.
New Reporting Requirements for International Platforms
Recent reports indicate that Receita Federal will soon issue an order requiring international cryptocurrency platforms, including Binance and Coinbase, to provide detailed operational data and information on their partnerships with local service providers.
Government’s Regulatory Focus
Andrea Chaves, Deputy Secretary of Inspection at the Federal Revenue Service, emphasized the importance of this measure. “It’s crucial for us to understand how they operate here and ensure there’s no illegality,” she stated. The government aims to ensure compliance with tax laws and confirm that services provided to Brazilian customers are fully legal.
Wagner Lima, a risk management coordinator at Receita Federal, underscored the need to review collaborations between foreign exchanges and local service providers. This review ensures compliance with a 2019 regulation that mandates information sharing.
Rise in Crypto Asset Declarations
This decision comes in response to a significant increase in crypto asset declarations by Brazilians. From January to July 2023, Brazilians declared 133.6 billion reais ($24.6 billion) in crypto assets, marking a 36.6% increase from the previous year. Notably, 14.5 billion reais were declared through foreign exchanges, representing a 51.2% growth.
Upcoming Order Details
The forthcoming order will require exchanges to disclose their operational methods and customer service practices in Brazil. However, it will exclude customer-specific data and transactional information to comply with current Brazilian laws.
Future Regulatory Framework
Brazilian authorities are also working on developing a clear framework for digital currencies and their legal status, expected to be introduced by mid-2024. This framework aims to organize both local and foreign exchanges operating within Brazil, ensuring their compliance with local laws and regulatory requirements.
Source: cryptotimes.io
