Founded in 2013, Mercado Bitcoin has emerged as one of Latin America's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, dedicated to enhancing financial accessibility in Brazil.

This integration simplifies participation in decentralized finance (DeFi) for Brazilian users, marking a significant advancement in crypto accessibility across Latin America.

On December 23, 2024, Mercado Bitcoin announced the integration of INJ, the native token of the Injective blockchain, allowing over 3 million customers to access the Injective ecosystem using fiat currencies like the Brazilian Real.

Following this announcement, the price of INJ surged approximately 15.6%, rising from a low of $20.52 to $23.72 on December 24, 2024, with INJ trading at around $23.44 as of December 25, 2024.

This partnership, initiated on October 3, 2024, enhances cross-border transactions by providing faster, cheaper, and more secure payment options.

Users can now engage with Injective's DeFi ecosystem, which boasts over $43 million in total value locked, according to Defillama.

In a related development, Mercado Bitcoin's partnership with Ripple supports direct payments in Brazilian Reais for both retail and corporate customers, streamlining treasury operations between Brazil and Portugal.

This strategic shift highlights Brazil's growing significance in the global cryptocurrency landscape, attracting interest from major players looking to integrate blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies.

Moreover, Coins.ph, originally based in the Philippines, is shifting its focus to Brazil, having experienced a tenfold increase in trading volume, indicating a rising confidence in Brazil's crypto market.

In May 2024, Mercado Bitcoin collaborated with Mastercard to enable live transaction capabilities across Latin America and Europe, further solidifying its role in the region's financial ecosystem.

In a broader context, MetaMask has launched the MetaMask Card in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, allowing users to conduct cryptocurrency transactions at any Mastercard location, effectively merging fiat and digital currencies.

Additionally, on December 17, 2024, Mercado Bitcoin became one of the first exchanges to list Ripple's dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD.