Today, various governments and institutions around the world are exploring Bitcoin’s potential for their benefit. We hear much talk about adopting Bitcoin reserves on the national level. However, Brazil came to crypto adoption from a workers’ perspective by introducing a bill that suggests employees will be allowed to demand up to 50% of their salary in crypto.
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The bill PL 957/2025
On Mar. 12, 2025, a descendant of the Brazilian royal family, federal deputy and self-proclaimed prince Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança, introduced the bill PL 957/2025. The bill aims to allow Brazilian employees to request that their employers pay salaries in crypto.
At least 50% of the salary must be paid in Brazilian real, the national currency and the only legal tender of Brazil. There are a few exceptions to this rule: expatriates and foreign remote workers can have 100% of their salary in crypto under the regulation of the Central Bank of Brazil. Other employees may get a full salary in crypto under the special contract only if a private service provider pays the compensation.
The exchange rate is not negotiable; it must align with the rate authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil. Employers will have to provide workers with a statement containing a gross amount of compensation expressed in Brazilian real, a share of the salary paid in crypto, conversion rate, and more usual info like charges, discounts, or bonuses. The taxes will stay the same as if the compensation is paid in Brazilian real. Such matters as the 13th salary, paid leave, and others will not be affected if an employee decides to use or not get paid in crypto. Also, the bill protects employees from potential attempts of fraud or price manipulation from the employer’s side.
On top of that, the bill obliges employers to provide employees with all the needed educational material about virtual assets, including risks associated with the use of cryptocurrencies and their price volatility, teach employees how to prevent fraud and secure crypto funds, and practically demonstrate how to exchange crypto for fiat and vice versa.
What does this bill aim for?
The bill pursues various goals, some of which are articulated in the bill itself, while the media, lawmakers, and experts single out others. According to the text of the bill, “seeks to align the national legal system to innovations and the new dynamics of the digital market, ensuring security of employers and employees who wish to adopt this remuneration on a voluntary basis.”
According to the text, the current Brazilian labor law doesn’t align with the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies. The requirement to keep at least 50% of the remuneration paid in Brazilian real is aimed at providing predictability and financial stability while allowing employers and workers to experiment with modern digital assets, paving the way for individual freedom and innovation. If it becomes a law, the legislation will empower workers to choose the most convenient way of earning without imposing any discouraging limitations on them.
The bill names Japan, Switzerland, and Portugal as the countries that already employ cryptocurrencies legally. Interestingly enough, all the named countries decided against creating a Bitcoin reserve while adopting crypto the other way–the Zug canton of Switzerland began to collect taxes in crypto, a huge digital flea market Mercari in Japan allows crypto payments, and the Portuguese energy company Luzboa accepts crypto to pay for the electricity bills. This indicates that different countries adopt crypto differently, and Bragança believes it is important to join the crypto bandwagon on time. According to the bill, the new law can boost Brazil’s fintech sector and attract new professionals from other countries.
Some media outlets commenting on the legislation named potential reduction of payment fees and a decrease in inflation among the possible benefits of the proposal.
Political context
Brazil is the world’s tenth-largest economy. Timely adoption of crypto is important for Brazil to preserve its leadership in Latin America and keep its place among the most competitive economies around the world. The crypto regulation in Brazil is rather friendly. However, it requires more clarity. Various legislation projects are currently being worked on. For instance, Brazil is eyeing the creation of a sovereign Bitcoin reserve.
Read more: Bitcoin reserve bill introduced in Brazil’s Congress
Although the bill is hardly applicable to the country’s external affairs, it echoes the country’s recent suggestion to consider cryptocurrencies as the means of exchange between the BRICS members. The potential use of crypto (stablecoins and CBDCs) is aimed at undermining the U.S. dollar hegemony in international trade and facilitating the independence of the BRICS economic bloc from the U.S.
Russian companies are already using crypto, citing ease of use and low costs as the main benefits on top of the fact that crypto allows these companies to dodge Western sanctions. This experience can solidify the bloc’s striving to put international trade on-chain.
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