Brazil Moves to Legalize Partial Bitcoin Salaries – New Bill Proposed

A new bill in Brazil aims to regulate salary payments in cryptocurrencies, allowing employees to receive part of their wages in Bitcoin. The proposed legislation, filed by federal deputy Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança, sets a limit on crypto payments while ensuring a portion of salaries is paid in the Brazilian real.

Proposed Regulations for Bitcoin Salaries

The bill, PL 957/2025, seeks to legalize voluntary and partial salary payments in cryptocurrencies. However, it mandates that at least 50% of an employee’s salary must be paid in Brazil’s official currency. Employers would be prohibited from paying full salaries in crypto, except for expatriate or foreign workers under specific conditions established by the Central Bank of Brazil.

The legislation also includes provisions for independent service providers. Unlike salaried employees, they could receive full payment in crypto if their contracts allow it. The bill specifies that cryptocurrency payments should follow exchange rates set by an institution authorized by the Central Bank.

Objectives Behind the Bill

Orleans e Bragança stated that the bill is designed to promote innovation in the financial sector and attract cryptocurrency investment. He emphasized that it provides workers and employers with greater freedom in contractual agreements while maintaining basic labor protections.

The proposed regulation follows examples from other countries where cryptocurrency salary payments have been introduced. The bill mentions Japan and Portugal as jurisdictions that have established guidelines for such transactions. In Japan, crypto salary payments require individual agreements between employers and employees, while Portugal’s framework has increased virtual asset adoption in the financial sector.

Brazil’s Expanding Interest in Cryptocurrency

The introduction of this bill comes as Brazil continues to explore cryptocurrency adoption in various sectors. The country has taken steps to integrate blockchain technology into financial transactions, particularly in trade between BRICS nations.

Meanwhile, other countries have developed different policies In this process, Brazil is also working on new regulations. El Salvador, the first country to legalize Bitcoin as a standard currency, insists on voluntary use of the cryptocurrency to pay workers’ wages but does not allow payment of taxes in the same. On the other hand, countries such as Turkey and Russia have banned the use of these currencies in making payments.

The bill is likely to be approved in the further stages for review and discussion by the Brazilian government soon. Should it be approved, it would provide legal regulation of Bitcoin salaries, making Brazil one of the few countries that legalize the use of partial crypto payments in employment relations.