TL;DR
- South America’s most populous country, Brazil, is the leading adopter of cryptocurrencies in Latin America, with a total of 12% of its population owning digital assets
- Moonbeam actively supports Brazilian sectors such as DeFi, NFTs, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
- Various notable Brazilian projects like Gotas, Picnic, Zuca, and Tokeniza are actively building on Moonbeam.
- During Blockchain RIO 2024 (July 24–25), Moonbeam will proudly sponsor and showcase Brazil’s thriving Web3 ecosystem.
Many countries have a large crypto-native population, but few go as far as Brazil with 12% of the population owning digital assets, 50% above the average worldwide adoption rates. Their Web3 landscape is continuously maturing, leading the country's position as Latin America's largest and most dynamic blockchain ecosystem. As Blockchain RIO 2024 approaches, let's explore why Brazil has become a center for crypto innovation and how Moonbeam supports this thriving market.
Key Drivers of Brazil’s Growth
Brazil's crypto market is experiencing rapid growth due to a unique combination of factors. The country's high digital literacy, fostered by government initiatives like the Pix instant payment system, has created a population comfortable with digital finance. The population is young and tech-savvy. Brazil's history of inflation and currency instability has made crypto an attractive store of value for many of these young citizens.
New legislation in 2023 has evolved the regulatory landscape, providing a clear framework for innovation in the crypto space. Brazil's massive online population of over 165 million internet users represents an enormous pool of potential crypto adopters, driving market expansion.
These factors have created a perfect storm for crypto adoption and innovation, positioning Brazil as a leader in the Latin American blockchain ecosystem and a significant player on the global stage. Brazil’s growing tech scene produces a growing pool of skilled blockchain developers and entrepreneurs, fueling innovation and project development on Moonbeam.
Brazil's Crypto Boom by the Numbers
- Within the first four months of 2024 alone, there was a total cryptocurrency trading volume of $6bn, representing an increase of 30%.
- Adoption rates have been growing fast in Brazil, where 12% of its population, 214m people, now use cryptocurrencies.
- 13 Bitcoin ETFs trading manage over $500 million worth of assets.
- Crypto trading activity surged by 30% from last year.
Moonbeam's Brazil Spotlight
Local Brazilian projects and developers are actively building on Moonbeam with its support. Our commitment is ongoing, with grants and other incentive mechanisms in place for new projects aiming to cater to the Brazilian market. Here are some notable projects using Moonbeam's technology:
Gotas: Brazilian Platform Revolutionizing Creator-Fan Interactions
Gotas, a Brazilian alternative to POAP, offers a platform for content creators to connect with followers through collectible NFTs marking significant moments. Gotas, built on Moonbeam, enhances creator-audience relationships in Brazil's thriving digital content ecosystem, showcasing Moonbeam's versatility in supporting local social engagement platforms.
Picnic: Brazilian Exchange Democratizing DeFi Access
The Brazilian non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange Picnic, provides easy access to DeFi products and crypto investments. Leveraging Moonbeam's smart contract capabilities and cross-chain functionality, Picnic offers a seamless, user-friendly experience for Brazilian crypto enthusiasts, demonstrating Moonbeam's potential in powering innovative local fintech solutions.
Zuca: Brazilian Startup Bridging Traditional Commerce with Blockchain
Zuca is a Brazilian start-up that is introducing a loyalty program based on blockchain and providing cash back for restaurant bills and references. In Brazil's commerce space, Moonbeam makes transaction processing more efficient and reward distribution easier for Zuca with its focus on real-world applications.
Tokeniza: Brazilian Company Pioneering Asset Tokenization
Tokeniza pioneered the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) in Brazil, closely collaborating with Brazil’s regulatory bodies such as CVM (Brazilian equivalent for SEC). Tokeniza uses Moonbeam as the foundation to create a marketplace of assets that can be traded on chain.
WJJC: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Certification on the Blockchain
WJJC is another Brazilian project using NFTs to certify Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu certifications. Using Moonbeam WJJC enables a reliable and transparent certification process, demonstrating Moonbeam's support for niche applications within Brazil's sports community.
Moon Villas: Brazilian DAO Experimenting with Decentralized Communities
Moon Villas is a Brazilian Value-to-Earn Community DAO that explores a more transparent, decentralized and fair way to engage and reward the community. This exciting new model is led by Rafael Castaneda, the cofounder of Valocracy and a very respected member in the Brazilian Web3 community.
DUX: Brazilian Platform Empowering the Creator Economy
DUX, the Brazilian platform for content creators, provides data analytics and monetization opportunities. By building on Moonbeam's infrastructure, DUX implements blockchain-based features securely and efficiently.
Carbify: Global Project with Brazil Focus on Rainforest Conservation
Carbify, while not Brazilian, focuses on the Amazon rainforest by offering an NFT platform representing trees. Built on Moonbeam, Carbify plants and tokenize trees. The CO2 absorbed by the trees is also tokenized. Their tokenized CO2, called Carbon Debits, can pinpoint the exact tree responsible for 1KG of CO2. This novel approach can tap into a billion-dollar carbon credits market.
Read our latest blog on Carbify!
Colb: Global RWA DeFi Platform with Brazilian Market Focus
Another RWA project, Colb, focuses on Brazil with its RWA DeFi ecosystem. With Moonbeam's technology, Colb offers premium tokenized investment opportunities, such as companies in pre-IPO phase like OpenAI, SpaceX and Discord. With a one-in-a-kind legal and regulatory architecture, fully regulated in Switzerland, Colb can provide premium and niched assets to the whole world, including Brazil.
RefiHub: Global Platform Supporting Sustainable Businesses in Brazil
ReFiHub is an innovative cross-chain ReFi platform built on Moonbeam, aiming to direct over $1 billion into environmental projects by 2030. ReFi Hub demonstrates how decentralized tech can reshape incentives and capital flows to support planetary regeneration.
Read more about RefiHub here.
Blockchain RIO 2024: Showcasing Brazil's Web3 Future
The upcoming Blockchain RIO event (July 24-25, 2024) will bring together over 300 speakers and thousands of attendees to explore the latest blockchain technology. As a proud sponsor, we will showcase how Moonbeam’s technology empowers Brazilian developers to build the next generation of Web3 applications. Watch this video for an introduction to Blockchain Rio.
Event Highlights:
- Keynotes from industry leaders like Charles Hoskinson and Fábio Araújo of Brazil's Central Bank
- Hackathon and bootcamp sessions for developers
- Networking opportunities with top projects, investors, and thought leaders
- Immersive expo floor showcasing cutting-edge blockchain innovations
Join us at Blockchain RIO to experience Brazilian Web3 innovation firsthand, driving Brazil's crypto revolution. We're building a more inclusive and decentralized financial future for Latin America and beyond! If you want to hear more about Moonbeam’s endevours in Brazil, watch the Moonbeam X space recap!