The financial landscape in Latin America is undergoing a transformative shift as Itaú Unibanco, Brazil’s largest private bank, officially opens its cryptocurrency trading services to all customers. With over 60 million clients and nearly 100,000 employees across the region, this move marks a pivotal moment in the mainstream adoption of digital assets—ushering in a new era where traditional banking and blockchain technology converge.
Expanding Access Through the Ion Investment Platform
Itaú Unibanco has integrated Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) into its proprietary investment platform, Ion, making these leading cryptocurrencies accessible to its entire customer base. Previously available only to select users, the expanded offering reflects growing demand and trust in digital assets among retail and institutional investors alike.
This strategic rollout underscores the bank’s commitment to innovation while maintaining compliance and security. By embedding crypto trading directly within a trusted financial ecosystem, Itaú lowers the entry barrier for everyday users who may have been hesitant to engage with decentralized exchanges or third-party wallets.
Built-In Security: A Proprietary Custody Solution
One of the most critical concerns for banks entering the crypto space is asset security. To address this, Itaú developed its own in-house custody solution, ensuring that each customer’s digital assets are stored in an isolated digital wallet. This segregation prevents commingling of funds and enhances transparency—a crucial factor in building long-term user confidence.
Guto Antunes, Head of Digital Assets at Itaú Unibanco, emphasized that customer trust in the bank’s custody model has been “extremely high.” He noted, “Clients appreciate knowing their assets are safeguarded through a regulated, transparent framework.”
This self-custody infrastructure allows Itaú to maintain full control over security protocols, compliance standards, and user experience—without relying entirely on external partners.
Strategic Partnership with Liqi – Beyond Custody
While Itaú manages custody internally, it has partnered with Liqi, a fintech specializing in blockchain infrastructure, to enhance non-custodial aspects of the service. The collaboration focuses on improving transaction efficiency, smart contract execution, and backend blockchain integration.
Antunes clarified that the partnership does not extend to asset holding: “Our custody remains fully internal. Liqi supports us in areas like network connectivity and settlement layers, but we retain ownership and responsibility for client assets.”
This hybrid approach enables Itaú to leverage specialized expertise without compromising regulatory accountability or operational autonomy.
Regulatory Alignment: Working Hand-in-Hand with Brazil’s Central Bank
As a fully regulated financial institution, Itaú Unibanco operates within strict legal frameworks. The bank emphasizes its ongoing dialogue with Brazil’s Central Bank regarding digital asset regulation.
“We align ourselves with regulatory developments,” Antunes stated. “Our goal is to grow responsibly and correctly—ensuring every step we take complies with current and emerging rules.”
Currently, the Ion platform supports only Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two most widely adopted and liquid cryptocurrencies. However, the bank is actively evaluating additional digital assets for future inclusion.
A key regulatory hurdle remains: stablecoins. Itaú is awaiting formal guidance from Brazilian authorities on how stablecoins can be issued, managed, and integrated into banking systems before adding them to Ion. Once clarity is provided, stablecoin integration could unlock new use cases in payments, remittances, and yield-bearing products.
Tokenization Services Pave the Way for Institutional Adoption
Beyond retail crypto trading, Itaú launched a digital asset unit in July 2022 dedicated to tokenization services. This division helps companies convert real-world assets—such as real estate, bonds, or private equity—into blockchain-based tokens.
This initiative positions Itaú as a bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi), enabling institutional clients to access global liquidity markets more efficiently. Asset tokenization increases transparency, reduces settlement times, and opens investment opportunities to a broader audience.
For example, a private company could tokenize shares and offer fractional ownership via blockchain, allowing smaller investors to participate in early-stage growth—something previously limited to venture capital firms.
👉 Learn how asset tokenization is reshaping modern finance and investment models.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can all Itaú Unibanco customers now buy cryptocurrency?
A: Yes. As of this announcement, all customers using the Ion investment platform can purchase Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).
Q: Is Itaú storing customer crypto assets itself?
A: Yes. Itaú uses its own proprietary custody solution with individual digital wallets for each client, ensuring asset segregation and enhanced security.
Q: Are stablecoins available on the Ion platform?
A: Not yet. The bank is awaiting regulatory guidelines from Brazil’s Central Bank before introducing stablecoin services.
Q: Why did Itaú choose only Bitcoin and Ethereum initially?
A: These two cryptocurrencies have the highest market adoption, liquidity, and regulatory clarity, making them ideal starting points for a compliant banking product.
Q: What is asset tokenization, and how is Itaú involved?
A: Tokenization converts real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain. Itaú’s digital asset unit offers this service to businesses looking to modernize fundraising and expand investor access.
Q: Could other Brazilian banks follow Itaú’s model?
A: Very likely. With increasing demand and regulatory progress, other major banks in Brazil are expected to launch similar crypto-integrated services in the coming years.
👉 See how global banks are adopting blockchain technology to stay competitive.
A New Chapter in Financial Inclusion
Itaú Unibanco’s decision to open crypto trading to all users isn’t just a technological upgrade—it’s a cultural shift. By bringing digital assets into the mainstream banking experience, the institution empowers millions of Brazilians to participate in the global digital economy safely and securely.
As regulatory frameworks evolve and financial innovation accelerates, Brazil is emerging as a leader in Latin America’s blockchain revolution. With pioneers like Itaú leading the charge, the convergence of traditional finance and decentralized technology is no longer a vision—it’s reality.
The future of money is digital, inclusive, and increasingly accessible—one wallet at a time.