B3, the primary stock exchange of Brazil, has unveiled a strategic roadmap to integrate digital assets into the traditional financial landscape. Starting in 2026, the exchange plans to launch a dedicated tokenization platform alongside its own stablecoin designed for settlement.
Bridging Traditional and Digital Markets
According to Luiz Masagão, B3’s Vice President of Products and Clients, the platform will initially focus on tokenizing traditional assets, such as stocks. The goal is to create a seamless environment where traditional and digital markets coexist without friction.
Masagão emphasized the importance of fungibility in this new ecosystem:
- Shared Liquidity: Buyers purchasing tokens will interact with the same liquidity pool as traditional stock sellers, often without needing to know they are transacting across different formats.
- The Stablecoin Factor: B3’s native stablecoin will serve as the primary engine to facilitate these tokenized trades, acting as a specialized settlement tool.
Regulatory Landscape
This initiative follows a recent move by Brazil’s central bank to classify stablecoin transactions as part of foreign-exchange operations for crypto firms, a policy expected to take effect in February. While it remains to be seen how this specifically impacts major exchanges like B3, the exchange is moving forward with an aggressive digital agenda.
Beyond Tokenization: Options and Event Contracts
The 2026 plan extends far beyond just tokenizing stocks. B3 aims to expand its derivatives and prediction market offerings by introducing:
- Weekly Options: New contracts for Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL).
- Event Contracts: Prediction-based instruments similar to those found on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
Brazil’s Lead Over the U.S. Market
Brazil has consistently outpaced the United States in providing regulated crypto exposure to retail and institutional investors. While the U.S. approved spot Bitcoin ETFs only in early 2024, B3 has been listing crypto-linked products since 2021.
Currently, the exchange hosts 13 different ETFs with cryptocurrency exposure, including a spot XRP fund that was introduced in February. This early adoption has positioned B3 as a global leader in traditional-to-crypto market integration.
