Brazilian youth rewrites the crypto rules: from speculation to stablecoins

Brazil is experiencing a different type of crypto revolution. While in other countries cryptocurrencies are often associated with high-risk traders and volatility speculation, the younger generation in Brazil is taking the opposite approach. Instead of chasing profits from price fluctuations, investors under 24 are massively turning to stablecoins and tokenized bonds as tools for protection and stable income.

Data from the Mercado Bitcoin exchange, presented in an analytical report for CoinDesk, paint a picture of radical changes in the local digital asset market. This shift reflects not just a trend but a deep rethinking by young investors of capital management in times of economic uncertainty.

Generation Z at the Center of Brazil’s Crypto Boom

The statistics are impressive: participation of young investors in the crypto space has increased by 56% over the past year. For comparison — this is one of the highest growth rates of the user base in the history of digital assets development in the region. At the same time, the key point is that this new influx of investors is not accompanied by the typical crypto boom frenzy and speculative fever.

“Important events such as cryptocurrency regulation by the Central Bank of Brazil and the growing recognition of stablecoins have created a favorable environment for expanding the participation of new investors,” — emphasized Fabrício Tota, vice president of crypto business at Mercado Bitcoin. The Central Bank recently established clear rules of the game: any crypto service provider must obtain a license and meet minimum capital requirements.

An interesting pattern has also emerged in activity itself: Mondays have become the busiest day for new investors and trading activity. This indicates a radical change in the perception of cryptocurrencies — from a tool for sporadic trading to an integral part of weekly financial planning for ordinary people.

Stablecoins as a Safe Entry Point

The Renda Fixa Digital (RFD) platform — a system of tokenized bonds based on blockchain — has become the main catalyst for this process. The idea is simple: instead of buying volatile tokens, young Brazilians gain access to fractional shares of real assets generating income, in a protected format from sudden jumps.

The results are impressive. In 2025, the amount of funds distributed through RFD reached 1.8 billion Brazilian reais — approximately $325 million. Meanwhile, the average yield of these instruments reached 132% of the benchmark CDI rate (Certificado de Depósito Interbancário) — Brazil’s official risk-free rate indicator. This means investors are earning significantly higher returns than traditional bank deposits, but without speculative risk.

At the same time, the volume of crypto transactions overall is growing. Over the year, it increased by 43%, indicating not only an increase in the number of users but also in the intensity of digital asset use in Brazilians’ daily lives.

Income Segment Investment Strategies

Analysis of investor behavior revealed a clear correlation between income level and asset choice. This is no coincidence — it reflects rational adaptation to different financial opportunities and risk profiles.

Investors with middle income demonstrate a conservative approach: they allocate up to 12% of their portfolio to stablecoins and simultaneously hold 86% in other low-volatility assets, mainly tokenized bonds. Such distribution ensures stable income with minimal risk of capital loss.

A completely different picture is observed among low-income investors. They invest more than 90% of their funds in traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This choice is explained by simple logic: with limited capital, such investors need higher potential returns. Bitcoin, despite its volatility, remains the main channel for seeking such returns, although it is associated with increased risks.

Mercado Bitcoin and competing platforms like Liqi and AmFi continue to expand the RWA (Real World Assets) ecosystem in Brazil, offering increasingly diverse fixed-income instruments. This means the market is actively evolving toward greater financial accessibility for broad segments of the population.

The crypto boom in Brazil is writing a new chapter in the history of digital assets — a story about how youth is transforming cryptocurrencies from speculative tools into reliable financial instruments for protection and capital growth.