Brazil has enacted a landmark legislation that enables authorities to channel crypto seized from felony organizations immediately into public safety initiatives, marking a significant step within the nation’s crackdown on organized crime.
Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Regulation No. 15.358 equips legislation enforcement with unprecedented powers to freeze, block, and seize each conventional and digital property, together with crypto, throughout investigations.
The laws additionally permits the provisional use of seized cryptoassets, with judicial approval, to fund police operations, intelligence work, officer coaching, and different public safety efforts—even earlier than closing convictions.
The legislation particularly targets ultraviolent felony organizations, paramilitary teams, and personal militias, broadening the definition of crimes and considerably growing penalties for acts comparable to controlling territories, obstructing police, or utilizing encrypted messaging apps and privateness instruments to hide illicit exercise.
Authorities can now droop entry to exchanges, digital wallets, and on-line platforms throughout investigations, with everlasting restrictions utilized upon conviction.
The laws additionally facilitates worldwide cooperation for asset restoration and intelligence sharing, aiming to trace and get better illicit proceeds throughout borders.
The legislation additional strengthens civil measures, permitting courts to grab property, block funds, and liquidate property linked to felony exercise.
It establishes a nationwide felony database that integrates the monetary constructions of identified felony teams, bettering coordination between police, prosecutors, and the judiciary.
Brazil’s try at a bitcoin reserve
Again in February 2026, Brazilian lawmakers reintroduced a invoice proposing the creation of a Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve (RESBit) to regularly purchase a million bitcoins over 5 years.
The invoice, offered by Federal Deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD/CE), outlines a complete framework to combine Bitcoin into the nation’s monetary technique and diversify nationwide reserves.
The laws would prohibit promoting bitcoins seized by judicial authorities, enable federal taxes to be collected in Bitcoin, and encourage public firms to take part in Bitcoin mining and storage.
RESBit would emphasize transparency and safety, requiring public disclosure of holdings and use of chilly wallets, multisignature wallets, and different acknowledged storage strategies.
If authorised, Brazil would be a part of a small group of nations holding nationwide Bitcoin reserves, following examples like El Salvador and proposals in the US.
Additionally, French utility big Engie is contemplating including battery storage or bitcoin mining information facilities at its newly launched 895-MW Assu Sol photo voltaic plant in Brazil to offset curtailment losses and enhance undertaking economics, Reuters stories.
Regardless of coming into full business operation this month, the northeast Brazil facility has already confronted grid-imposed restrictions that restrict output when provide exceeds demand.
