Brazil Bans Closed Pension Funds from Investing in Crypto Assets

The decision to prohibit closed pension funds from investing in crypto assets was influenced by the instability of digital currencies, particularly following Bitcoin's 120% surge in 2024, reaching approximately $80,000. This ruling mainly impacts major pension funds like Previ and Petros, which cater to millions of retirees and have traditionally favored low-risk investments like government bonds due to Brazil's 10.5% Selic rate. Despite the ban on cryptocurrencies, the council is still permitting investments in other sectors such as agro-industrial funds and infrastructure debentures to support Brazil's $150 billion export industry. This move contrasts with the trend in other countries where U.S. pension funds are embracing Bitcoin ETFs, Australia allows indirect crypto exposure, while South Korea and the Netherlands remain cautious about integrating crypto into their financial systems. Despite the ban on crypto investments, Brazil's 2022 crypto law marked a significant step towards regulating the digital asset market, with 10 million Brazilians now holding digital assets and evolving real estate regulations for pension funds.