Ripple partners with Travelex to launch enterprise crypto payment service in Brazil

Published at: Aug. 19, 2022

Ripple’s XRP token is set to be used to facilitate fast and cost-effective cross-border transactions in Brazil, after the launch of RippleNet's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) with forex company Travelex.

Digital payment network Ripple announced on Aug. 18 that foreign exchange company Travelex will utilize RippleNet’s ODL to facilitate cross-border payments between enterprises by utilizing Ripple’s XRP token. It also noted that Travelex Bank is the first bank approved by Brazil's central bank to operate exclusively in foreign exchange. 

Bom dia! Brazil is open for Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity with Travelex—our first LATAM bank partner—and the first bank approved by the Central Bank of Brazil to operate exclusively in FX. We’re excited to bring crypto-native solutions to https://t.co/G6U8nh9jIY

— Ripple (@Ripple) August 18, 2022

While other Latin American companies such as Banco Rendimento, Remessa Online, Frente Corretora, and Banco Topazio have already used RippleNet services, the Central Bank of Brazil’s approval makes this the first time a Latin American bank has utilized ODL, said Ripple. 

Travelex will firstly enable these cross-border payments between Brazil and Mexico, with plans to open up more payment avenues in the region and with more use cases suited to enterprise needs.

The news comes as the Brazilian government approved their first “Bitcoin law” in Apr. 2022, which set out to create a regulatory framework as to how cryptocurrencies would be regulated.

Brazil is also in the process of rolling out a central bank digital currency (CBDC). However, the decision has been a controversial one, with Economist Fabio Araujo of the opinion that the CBDC “will be able to halt bank runs and impose other restrictions on citizens’ access to money.”

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said Brazil’s adoption of a crypto-friendly regulatory framework and surging institutional interest in digital asset solutions made the country a great fit for the ODL:

“Brazil is a key market for Ripple given its importance as an anchor to business in Latin America, its openness to crypto and country-wide initiatives that promote fintech innovation. As a result, the market is experiencing an explosion of activity as institutions look to adopt crypto and blockchain technology to solve customer pain points.”

Related: Latin America’s largest digital bank will allocate 1% to BTC, offer crypto investment services

Garlinghouse added that with over $780 billion in payments flowing into Brazil annually, Travelex’s use of the ODL service will make cross-border payments much more efficient:

“From day one, we’ve focused on building solutions that deliver real utility and we are excited to collaborate with an innovative partner like Travelex Bank to help move money more efficiently for the benefit of its customers across Brazil.”
Tags
Adoption
Regulation
Business
Xrp
Payments
Brazil
Latin America
Related Posts
Brazilian federal deputy proposes crypto payment option for workers
Federal Deputy Luizão Goulart, a Brazilian congressman, proposed a bill to legalize crypto payments as a mode of payment for public and private sector workers. Goulart’s proposal seeks a new law that allows all Brazilian workers to have an option to request employers for remuneration in cryptocurrencies. However, the bill warrants crypto payments to be made only after selling a mutual agreement between the workers and the employer. According to the translated version of the bill: “The limits of the percentage of payment (remuneration) in cryptocurrencies will be of the worker’s free choice. Any imposition by the employer will be …
Adoption / Nov. 7, 2021
Adapt or die: Payments giants partner with crypto firms to ensure security
Institutional interest for digital assets continues to grow rapidly, demonstrating that cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and nonfungible tokens (NFT) are here to stay. At the same time, traditional financial institutions are beginning to understand the dire need to properly support digital assets. For example, although payments giants such as Mastercard and Visa currently offer crypto-enabled credit and debit cards, these companies are also forming partnerships with crypto organizations to enable better security and trust for consumers transacting with digital currencies. Shedding light on the matter, Ajay Bhalla, president of cyber and intelligence at Mastercard, told Cointelegraph that Mastercard’s customers and other partners …
Adoption / Sept. 21, 2021
Brazilian crypto industry gets regulatory clarity amid global uncertainty
As the global crypto community is still licking its wounds from the FTX collapse, a liquidity crisis continues to spread around centralized exchanges and decentralized finance (DeFi) alike. It is soon to be decided whether the coming regulation triggered by FTX’s bankruptcy will bring a silver lining to crypto. The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, the lower house of the country’s federal legislative body, has passed a regulatory framework that legalizes the use of cryptocurrencies as a payment method within the country. It is estimated that 10 million Brazilians, or about 5% of the population, trade crypto assets. The largest …
Adoption / Dec. 5, 2022
How can UK-based businesses accept Bitcoin?
What are the pros and cons of accepting Bitcoin payments? Accepting Bitcoin payments is advantageous due to lower fees than credit and debit cards, expansion of customer base and real-time bank balances. However, risks like volatility and cybercrime may undermine these benefits. Cryptocurrency payments help save excessive credit and debit card processing fees as they are decentralized and do not need intermediaries to verify the transaction. Moreover, merchants do not incur overseas currency exchange changes if payments are made in BTC or other cryptocurrencies. High transaction speed is another benefit of accepting Bitcoin payments, allowing businesses to receive payments in …
Adoption / Dec. 5, 2022
Brazil’s oldest bank allows residents to pay off tax bill with crypto
Brazilian bank Banco do Brasil is offering a new and convenient option for taxpayers to settle their dues using cryptocurrencies. According to a statement published by Banco do Brasil on Feb. 11 it is now “possible” for Brazilian taxpayers to pay their tax bill with crypto, in a joint initiative with Brazilian-based crypto firm Bitfy. This initiative is available to Brazilian’s who have their crypto under the custody of Bitfy, who will act as a “collection partner” for the major Brazilian bank. It noted that besides the convenience it brings to customers, it makes it possible to “expand” the use …
Bitcoin / Feb. 12, 2023