The aim of the probe is to determine if the digital and trade policies in Brazil are imposing undue disadvantages on American firms. Greer highlighted that the investigation intends to scrutinize Brazil’s “tariff and non-tariff barriers,” suggesting that the country provides preferential treatment to certain trade partners while leaving US exporters at a disadvantage. The investigation will also delve into Brazil’s alleged penalization of US tech companies that do not adhere to censorship of political speech.

In 2024, there was a nationwide ban on social media platform X in Brazil after Elon Musk declined to assign a legal representative in the country. This order was issued by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court in August 2024.

This probe signals the latest surge in tension between the two nations. Former US President Trump expressed his dissent on social media on July 7, urging Brazilian authorities to halt the prosecution of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, which he described as a “witch hunt.” Shortly after, Trump threatened a new investigation in a letter addressed to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, coupled with a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports from August 1.

Pix, introduced in 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil, is an instant payment system that operates round the clock, enabling people to send and receive money instantly at negligible or no costs. Pix has reshaped the Brazilian digital economy, with over 150 million users and more than 60 million businesses employing it. The US probe intends to uncover if Brazil has been unfairly promoting its local payment system over established American alternatives like Mastercard, Visa, and other US fintech companies.

While Pix operates only within Brazil, its influence is part of a larger shift that has raised concerns among US officials. Crypto-fintech platforms like Truther enable global users to send stablecoins and settle instantly into bank accounts via Pix, bypassing traditional financial systems such as SWIFT, PayPal, and US remittance services like Western Union. This transition has significant implications for global finance and domestic payments.

Furthermore, Brazil’s role in the BRICS economic bloc — with Russia, India, China, and South Africa — is part of a collective effort to lessen reliance on the US dollar and Western financial infrastructure. In 2024, the bloc adopted “BRICS Pay,” a cross-border payments platform designed to facilitate local-currency transactions and circumvent SWIFT. This move has reportedly ruffled feathers at the US end.

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Federal Deputy Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança has brought forward a bill that suggests the regulation of cryptocurrency payments for wages, compensations, and other work-related benefits.

Established on March 12, the bill known as PL 957/2025, supports voluntary and partial payments of salaries in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), while also necessitating that a portion of the salary be paid in the national currency, the Brazilian real.

Orleans-Braganza, a lineage of Brazil’s former royal family, is currently on his second term as a federal deputy for Sao Paolo and is recognized for his support to Truth Social, a social media initiative owned by former US President Donald Trump.

In Orleans-Braganza’s proposed bill, he calls on lawmakers to prevent employers from paying full salaries in crypto, setting a limit of 50% for such payments.

The bill states, “The payment of salaries exclusively in virtual assets is prohibited,” with the exception for cases involving expatriate employees or foreign workers, as per regulations set by the Central Bank of Brazil.

The bill also permits complete crypto payments by “independent service providers,” given certain contractual conditions.

Otherwise, the portion of the salary paid in the Brazilian real should not be less than 50% of the total salary payout. The conversion of the amount paid in crypto should correspond with the exchange rate officially set by an institution authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil.

This is an ongoing story and more details will be provided as they emerge.

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Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has reportedly resumed allowing users to purchase crypto with Russian bank cards. This move comes after the exchange had limited its services in Russia due to international sanctions. According to BeInCrypto’s Russian language site, compatibility with Russian bank-issued cards was reintroduced this week.

The limitations on Russian accounts began after international sanctions were imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. In March, Binance blocked transactions with cards issued by banks within the Russian Federation. This action followed the significant withdrawal of Visa and Mastercard, who both stopped providing network services in the country.

In April, Binance deactivated accounts of numerous major clients in response to EU sanctions. Since then, Russian users holding crypto assets worth over 10,000 euros have been barred from making new deposits or trading. However, users with less than 10,000 euros in crypto remained active.

Section 2: Russia’s Push for Alternative Payment Technologies

As a result of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has found itself increasingly excluded from crucial payments infrastructure, such as the Swift network. Consequently, after the widespread sanctions imposed in 2022, developing new cross-border payment channels has become essential.

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) Governor Elvira Nabiullina discussed the country’s approach in a recent speech. She emphasized Russia’s investment in domestic infrastructure, ensuring interoperability with foreign partners. Furthermore, she stated that creating an international settlements system is one of CBR’s top priorities.

Section 3: CBDCs and Cryptocurrencies as Potential Solutions

With many existing payment channels between Russia and its trading partners hindered, the country is exploring alternative technologies. For instance, the CBR is developing payment gateways to integrate with foreign systems, working closely with Turkey. Additionally, Russia and Iran initiated collaboration on an interbank payment network earlier this year.

The CBR is also drafting a bill to introduce an “experimental legal regime” for cryptocurrencies to be utilized in international transactions. Moreover, the ongoing development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is focusing on cross-border payments. CBR officials recently suggested that the digital ruble platform would be able to interoperate with other CBDCs.

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