E-commerce has transitioned from a trend to a global economic engine. And, on the Brazil-Asia route, security, speed, and financial inclusion are the pillars of an integration that redefines markets and brings consumers from two continents closer together.
China continues as the absolute powerhouse of the sector. In 2024, the country generated approximately US$1.9 trillion in e-commerce, setting the standard for logistical efficiency, digital wallets, and superapps that have become global benchmarks. This influence isn't just numerical; it's cultural and technological, a model of how instant payments and digital integrations can support large-scale consumption.
Brazil, meanwhile, emerges as a regional promise and leader. The national e-commerce market surpassed US$1,346 billion in 2024, with projections to exceed US$1,586 billion by 2027. Another study projects nearly US$1.5 trillion in 2033, solidifying the country as the digital hub of Latin America. The engine of this expansion is Pix, which already accounts for approximately 40% of online purchases, and whose payment initiations soared from R$624 million in 2023 to R$3.2 billion in 2024, a growth exceeding 400%.
But where there is scale, risks emerge. Brazil-Asia integration will only be sustainable if cybersecurity occupies a central place on the agenda. Data breaches, fraud, and digital attacks grow in proportion to transaction volume. The response requires more than just laws and regulations: it's necessary to invest in secure APIs, end-to-end encryption, real-time monitoring, and machine learning for fraud detection.
Brazil's LGPD and the advancement of Open Finance, which already boasts over 103 million data sharing authorizations, provide a solid foundation for consumers to confidently buy from Asian retailers.
Speed is another differentiator. If previously, the international card was synonymous with bureaucracy and high fees, today Pix and digital wallets offer instant settlement, reducing currency barriers and increasing conversion. This experience brings the Brazilian consumer closer to the Asian reality, where paying with QR codes or through superapps is commonplace.
Full financial inclusion completes the trifecta. Around 40 million Brazilians still live in a state of under-banking, but already use Pix and digital wallets in their daily lives. By enabling these consumers to participate in international trade without relying on credit cards, we've created a groundbreaking market, democratizing access to global goods and services. For Asian companies, accepting local payment methods is more than just adaptation; it's a strategy to win millions of new customers.
We stand before a historic opportunity. China demonstrates the path of scale and efficiency; Brazil shows how regulatory innovation and diverse payment methods can foster inclusion. The challenge is to maintain a strong bridge, combining robust security, transactions in seconds, and access for everyone.
In the integration of Brazil and Asia, we're not just talking about digital transactions. We're talking about trust, a shared economic future, and a global market that increasingly happens in real time.