Governments worldwide are exploring Bitcoin, but Brazil is taking a worker-focused approach. A new bill proposes allowing employees to receive up to 50% of their salary in crypto.
Understanding Brazil’s Crypto Salary Bill (PL 957/2025)
On March 12, 2025, Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança, a Brazilian federal deputy and descendant of the royal family, introduced the PL 957/2025 bill. If passed, the law will allow Brazilian employees to request salary payments in cryptocurrency.
Key Highlights:
- At least 50% of wages must be in Brazilian real, the country’s only legal tender.
- Foreign workers and expatriates can receive 100% of their salary in crypto under Central Bank regulations.
- Full crypto salaries are possible only for employees paid by private service providers.
- Exchange rates must align with Central Bank rates, preventing price manipulation.
- Tax obligations and benefits remain unchanged, regardless of payment method.
Employers will need to provide transparent salary breakdowns, including conversion rates, deductions, and any crypto payments.
Protecting Employees & Educating Workers
The bill prioritizes worker protection by ensuring employers cannot manipulate crypto prices or commit fraud. Additionally, companies must provide educational resources on crypto risks, security measures, and how to exchange digital assets for fiat currency.
Why Is Brazil Introducing This Bill?
The proposal aims to modernize Brazil’s labor laws and align them with the growing crypto economy. The bill claims to balance financial stability and innovation, ensuring crypto adoption doesn’t create economic uncertainty.
Brazil references countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Portugal, which have integrated crypto in various ways. While these nations haven’t created Bitcoin reserves, they allow tax payments, online marketplaces, and even energy bills to be paid in cryptocurrency.
Additionally, supporters argue that a crypto salary system could boost Brazil’s fintech sector, attract foreign talent, and reduce payment fees and inflation risks.
The Political Context & Global Impact
Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and the tenth-largest in the world. Maintaining economic leadership requires embracing financial innovation, including crypto adoption.
Brazil has also explored using crypto for BRICS trade, aiming to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar. Countries like Russia already use crypto for international transactions, especially to avoid Western sanctions. This strengthens the argument that cryptocurrency could play a key role in global trade within BRICS nations.
What’s Next?
The bill still needs approval, but if passed, it could set a precedent for crypto adoption in salaries worldwide. Whether this move accelerates Brazil’s crypto economy or raises new financial challenges remains to be seen.
