STJ rules cryptocurrencies can be used for private contractual payments

The Third Panel of the Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) has ruled that contractual clauses allowing the use of cryptocurrencies for the purchase of goods between private parties are valid. While the court noted that cryptocurrencies cannot be classified as legal tender, it affirmed that parties may freely agree to use them to fulfill contractual obligations.

Minister Nancy Andrighi, the rapporteur for the case, emphasized that using cryptocurrencies constitutes a high-risk investment for both buyers and sellers. The court ruled that mere fluctuations in value do not invalidate a legal transaction involving these assets. The case originated from a dispute over the use of the I9COIN token as partial payment for a vehicle and real estate, where the seller claimed the asset was fraudulent and overvalued.