Bradesco Launches Corporate Crypto Custody With Foxbit as First Client

Brazil · Fintech

The bank’s new service offers a secure place for companies to keep digital money, as new rules from the central bank arrive.

A Bitcoin token. Bradesco launched crypto custody for companies, with Foxbit as a client. (Photo: Satheesh Sankaran, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.)

Bradesco has launched corporate crypto custody services, with Brazilian exchange Foxbit as its first client. The bank said in its Q2 2026 earnings release on August 6, 2026.

Corporate crypto custody means the bank offers a secure place for companies to store their digital money. This move puts Brazil’s largest private bank in the digital asset safekeeping market for institutions.

crypto custody: Bradesco Enters Digital Asset Custody

Bradesco shared the new service with its quarterly results. It is a key step for traditional banking in Brazil’s crypto economy.

The bank is based in Osasco, São Paulo. It holds R$2.8 trillion (US$550 billion) in assets under custody as of Q2 2026.

Assets under custody means all the money and investments the bank holds safely for its clients. Foxbit, one of the country’s oldest exchanges, will use Bradesco’s systems to hold client digital assets.

This partnership makes Foxbit the first to use a major bank’s regulated custody rails. This model could set a standard for other exchanges seeking trust.

The service is for corporate clients. It offers secure storage of cryptocurrencies inside a regulated banking space.

Bradesco’s move comes as more institutional investors ask for safe, legal ways to handle digital assets. Banks in Brazil have been cautious about these assets until now.

The launch shows a trend in Brazil’s financial sector. Major banks are starting to offer crypto-related services.

It also comes as the central bank prepares new anti-fraud rules. This signals a move to bring digital assets into the formal financial system.

Q2 2026 Results Show Strong Custody Growth

In the same report, Bradesco said custody and brokerage services earned R$600 million (US$118 million) in Q2 2026. That is up 26.4% from one year earlier.

Custody and brokerage services mean keeping assets safe and helping clients buy and sell investments. This growth shows the value of fee-based services for the bank.

Assets under custody hit R$2.8 trillion (US$550 billion). This includes securities, funds, and now digital assets as the service starts.

The bank’s move into crypto custody fits its plan to grow fee income. Interest rates in Brazil remain high, which can slow down loan demand.

Experts say banks are looking at digital assets as a fresh growth area. The worldwide market for crypto custody is expected to expand.

Bradesco’s size and experience with rules could help it compete against smaller fintech firms. But it will need to blend new technology with older systems.

The earnings report also showed a 26.4% year-over-year rise in custody revenues. Clients are asking for more safekeeping services.

The crypto custody part is still new. But the bank’s existing base of large firms and institutions gives it a ready market for this offering.

Central Bank Anti-Fraud Rules Take Effect in 2027

Brazil’s central bank will add a 24-hour wait on crypto transfers over US$10,000 starting January 1, 2027. This is according to Reuters.

The rule applies to transfers to foreign virtual-asset firms or self-custody wallets. Virtual-asset firms are businesses that trade or hold digital money.

Self-custody wallets are digital wallets owned and controlled by the user, not by a company. The 24-hour delay gives authorities time to spot suspicious activity.

The central bank says this is an anti-fraud tool, not a ban on cryptocurrency. It is not a permanent freeze either.

The delay allows for extra checks on flagged transactions. In cases of suspected illicit activity, this could take longer than 24 hours.

The new rule is part of a larger regulatory framework Brazil has been building for years. This includes a legal structure for virtual asset service providers.

Such rules are seen as both good and challenging. They legitimize the sector but add compliance duties for firms like Foxbit and Bradesco.

For institutions, the rule adds friction to cross-border transfers. This could make domestic custody solutions like Bradesco’s more appealing.

Holding assets within a regulated Brazilian bank may help clients avoid some foreign transfer complexities. Bradesco has not yet detailed its specific compliance methods.

Regulatory Environment Shapes Custody Offering

Bradesco’s custody service arrives amid stricter rules for Brazil’s crypto market. The central bank’s new rules aim to stop fraud and money laundering.

Money laundering means hiding where illegal money came from. Bradesco, as a central bank-supervised institution, is well placed to follow these rules.

The regulated offering could appeal to corporate clients seeking compliance with new standards. Many have been wary of unregulated crypto intermediaries.

Intermediaries are middlemen who handle assets between parties. With Bradesco’s existing compliance setup, clients may show they meet anti-money laundering rules more easily.

Brazil’s central bank has been active in regulating crypto. It has granted licenses to exchanges and set rules for stablecoin issuance.

Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value. The new transfer delay rule adds to this framework, possibly forcing international exchanges to adapt.

Foxbit’s partnership with Bradesco points to a move toward banking-grade infrastructure for digital assets. Analysts believe this will grow as institutions join.

The collaboration could push other Brazilian exchanges to seek similar partnerships with traditional banks. This would help them gain more legitimacy.

Market Context: Institutional Crypto Adoption

The launch comes as global banks expand digital asset services. Major U.S. institutions like BNY Mellon and State Street have offered similar services for years.

Banks in Switzerland and Singapore have also moved into crypto custody. They cite client demand for regulated access to these assets.

Brazil has become a leading crypto market in Latin America. Institutional interest is growing due to inflation concerns and a tech-savvy population.

The country’s clear rules, including the central bank’s active role, make it a testbed for integrating digital assets. This could shape how corporations hold digital money.

The mix of a major bank’s custody service and new central bank rules may reduce reliance on offshore platforms. Offshore platforms are overseas services holding digital assets.

This is especially relevant in Brazil, where authorities have increased enforcement against unlicensed crypto businesses in recent years. Industry reports say institutional investors now favor secure, compliant custody over self-custody or exchange storage.

This is due to risks of hacks and insolvency. Insolvency means being unable to pay what you owe.

Bradesco’s entry addresses these concerns, offering strong security and regulatory oversight. The Q2 earnings did not give specific projections for crypto custody growth.

But Bradesco’s size and client relationships give it a strong base for this new market. As the regulatory environment matures, Bradesco’s first-mover advantage may be key in attracting institutional clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bradesco’s corporate crypto custody service?

Bradesco’s new service offers secure storage of digital assets for corporate clients. Foxbit is the first client to use this service.

When did Bradesco launch this custody service?

Bradesco announced the service on August 6, 2026. It was part of its Q2 2026 earnings report.

How does Brazil’s new central bank rule affect crypto transfers?

Starting January 1, 2027, transfers above US$10,000 to foreign platforms or self-custody wallets will face a 24-hour delay. The rule is designed to prevent fraud, not restrict crypto ownership.

Will Bradesco’s custody service help clients comply with new rules?

The service offers regulated custody, which may help clients follow evolving regulations. However, Bradesco has not detailed how the service interacts with the 2027 transfer rules.

Sources: Reuters, Investing.com, Bradesco Q2 2026 earnings.