How Brazil Became XRP’s Not-So-Secret Latin American Hideout

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Welcome back to Latam Insights Encore, where we splash you with all the crypto and economic gossip from Latin America faster than your abuela can say “¡Ay, caramba!” This week, we examine how XRP‘s shiny new ETF might just be the Trojan horse Ripple’s been dreaming of to conquer Latam—starting in Brazil, naturally.

Latam Insights Encore: XRP ETF Unlocks Brazil’s Glittering Crypto Candy Store for Big Fancy Institutions

Brazil, that carnival of samba, soccer, and now crypto, has morphed into a hotbed for digital coin frenzy. The country is about to throw open its very own velvet rope entry for XRP, which, up till now, was just a chip on Ripple’s shoulder, waiting to become the big kahuna of Latam assets.

The launch of one of the very first XRP exchange-traded funds on Brazil’s stock exchange, B3, is basically the financial equivalent of handing institutions a “get out of custody worries free” card. They can scoop up XRP without stuffing it under their mattresses. Great news if you want exposure to the coin but hate the whole “Where do I keep it?” drama.

With this smooth new move, Ripple isn’t just playing in the kiddie pool anymore. Institutional investors might just dive into the deep end, jazzing up demand among the big fish while the retail crowd is already snatching coins like they’re hot empanadas. Bitso, a crypto exchange with a name that sounds like salsa, reports that 9% of all crypto purchases in 2024 Latam-wide were for XRP. That’s more than the ethereal ETH and sun-kissed SOL, suggesting XRP isn’t just the new kid on the blockchain but the one everyone’s secretly excited about.

Once upon a time, Ripple eyed Latam more like a savvy merchant imagining remittances and payments, but it was cautious about waving its token as a shiny reserve coin—blame it on the U.S. SEC playing “crypto cops.”

Back in October, Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, threw a bouquet at Brazil’s crypto scene, calling it “one of the fastest-growing markets in the adoption of crypto assets and blockchain.” He gave a cheeky nod to the Central Bank of Brazil being “very constructive” with their regulations—which basically means they gave crypto a thumbs-up instead of a slap on the wrist.

Now, with this nifty ETF, Ripple’s skipping the small fries and going after the big fish: institutions. They’re handing out an all-in-one gadget that’s part investment rocket and part remittance helicopter—because why choose when you can have both? 🚀💸

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2025-04-29 10:02