The Central Bank of Brazil is advancing in 2025 with tests for the implementation of Pix International, an initiative expected to enable instant cross-border payments and direct integration with systems in Latin American countries. The proposal aims to eliminate intermediaries in international transfers, reducing costs and settlement times—a bottleneck that, according to World Bank data, still consumes up to 6% of the value sent in international remittances.
This development is seen as a strategic step in consolidating Brazil's position as a reference in global financial innovation. For Luis Molla Veloso, an expert in Embedded Finance and the integration of financial services into digital platforms, the international interoperability of Pix represents “a watershed moment for foreign trade and for consumers.”.
“With Pix International, companies will be able to make payments to foreign suppliers in seconds, with automatic currency conversion and complete transaction traceability. This drastically reduces the cost of remittances and democratizes access to international transactions, which were previously restricted to large institutions,” explains the expert.
The project is being developed by the Central Bank in conjunction with financial authorities from Mercosur and the BIS (Bank for International Settlements). Expectations are that, in the first phase, the system will enable transactions between Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, later expanding to other Latin American countries.
This interoperability follows a global trend. According to consultancy McKinsey, over 60 countries have already adopted instant payment systems, but only 10% have effective international integration. Brazil intends to occupy this space with a model based on open APIs and verified digital identity.
Veloso points out that the advancement of Pix International could also accelerate the adoption of cross-border Embedded Finance models, connecting marketplaces and service platforms to integrated payment methods. “From the moment international payment becomes instantaneous and transparent, it opens the way for e-commerce companies and mobility platforms to include global transactions in their digital journeys without depending on traditional banks,” he assesses.
According to the Central Bank, the new system is estimated to enter a pilot phase by the end of 2025. In the medium term, Pix International could benefit approximately 10 million Brazilians who send and receive remittances from abroad every year, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand operations in international trade. “Brazil has the chance to lead a new stage of regional financial integration. The technology is already mature; the challenge now is to align regulation, foreign exchange, and data security among countries,” concludes Veloso.
