Pix regulations in Brazil extend transaction contestation deadline

New regulations for the Pix instant payment system in Brazil, implemented by the Central Bank on September 1, 2026, have extended the deadline for contesting transactions. The period to contest fraudulent or erroneous operations via the Special Refund Mechanism (MED) has increased from 30 to 80 days.

This change aims to protect merchants and service providers from fraudulent claims. Previously, scammers would purchase goods via Pix and later claim they were victims of fraud to trigger a refund through the MED, effectively receiving both the product and the money back. The extended 80-day window allows legitimate recipients more time to gather evidence, such as invoices and delivery receipts, to contest these improper withdrawals.

Additionally, the MED 2.0 update allows for better tracking of funds as they move through different accounts, making it harder for fraudsters to hide stolen money.