Itaú Unibanco registers crypto brokerage and custody with Brazil’s central bank

Itaú Unibanco, Brazil’s largest private lender, has formally registered its cryptocurrency brokerage and custody operations with the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB). The filing, dated October 27, ensures the bank’s compliance with new virtual-asset regulations that took effect in October.

The registration covers the intermediation and custody of cryptoassets, categories treated under the new framework as equivalent to a broker. This procedural step allows existing authorized banks to align their current services with the new rules via notification, whereas dedicated virtual-asset service providers must undergo a separate operating authorization process.

Itaú has offered the purchase and sale of digital assets since December 2023 through its investment app, íon. The bank currently lists approximately 14 to 15 virtual assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, and the USDC stablecoin.