During the panel ‘Reshaping Brazil’s Crypto Capital Markets’ at Web Summit Rio 2025, representatives from companies in the sector discussed the strategic directions of crypto platforms. According to participants, the sector faces a crossroads between advancing integration with the traditional financial system (TradFi) or accelerating the adoption of decentralized solutions, such as those proposed by DeFi. The conversation was moderated by Christian Bohn, an executive at Circle, and featured prominent figures like Ibiaçu Caetano, CFO of Bitybank, Juliana Felippe, CRO of Transfero Group, and Adriano Ferreira, head of MB Labs digital assets.
According to Ibiaçu Caatano, the current moment demands more than just technological innovation. For him, exchanges face a central strategic decision for their long-term positioning. ‘Exchanges today face the strategic challenge of deciding whether to steer their businesses toward a more TradFi model, offering products similar to traditional financial markets, or to advance with more decentralized product models,’ he states. The choice, he adds, must consider user experience as a priority.
Caetano also explains how Bitybank has structured itself to offer integrated solutions to the public. ‘We have partners today who handle the entire logistics process for sending funds abroad via stablecoins. This happens in seconds, without bureaucracy and with full traceability,’ he said. He added that the company connects liquidity between exchanges, resulting in more competitive prices. ‘We bridge liquidity between exchanges, which is why we can offer the best prices for crypto investments.’
According to Juliana Felippe, the adoption of stablecoins has been one of the main gateways for everyday use of crypto assets. ‘Linking these assets to traditional fiat currencies makes it easier for the public to understand and simplifies the use of these instruments in retail.’ She noted that the instant nature of stablecoins represents an advantage over traditional money, which is often limited in digital transactions.
The executive also cites real-world examples of stablecoin use in retail chains, such as Supermercado Zona Sul in Rio de Janeiro. In her view, familiarity with this type of solution is likely to grow as more companies adopt crypto payments. Felippe believes consumers are already receptive to new payment methods, as long as they are secure, easy to use, and offer clear advantages in everyday financial transactions.
Panelists pointed out that crypto platforms are moving beyond being just trading tools and are consolidating as full financial hubs. In this new model, services such as currency exchange, payments, custody, and investments operate in an integrated manner. Interoperability between services allows users to move seamlessly and autonomously without relying on multiple institutions or fragmented interfaces.
The next step, according to experts, is to eliminate the technical barriers that still deter the mainstream audience. More intuitive and accessible interfaces are seen as a priority to expand the sector’s reach. The goal is for users to not need an understanding of blockchain or technical concepts to benefit from crypto solutions. Usability, therefore, becomes a key factor in popularizing these technologies.
In Ibiaçu Caetano’s assessment, the future of the sector will be defined by those who can translate complexity into simplicity. ‘The logic now is to structure the sector as a complete, decentralized, and interoperable financial system—a space that offers control, transparency, and speed without requiring technical knowledge from users,’ he concluded. For him, widespread adoption in Brazil depends on trust, efficiency, and a total focus on user experience.
