Transfero is a global financial technology company founded in 2017 that specializes in blockchain-based infrastructure. ^{[1] [2]} Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the company focuses on creating solutions that connect the traditional financial system (TradFi) with the digital asset economy, with a particular emphasis on the Latin American (LATAM) and European markets. ^{[3] [1]} Transfero is primarily known as the issuer of the BRZ, a stablecoin pegged to the Brazilian Real, and for its comprehensive suite of services including fiat on/off-ramps, institutional over-the-counter (OTC) trading, and stablecoin issuance platforms. ^[4]​

Overview

Transfero provides financial infrastructure for businesses, such as asset managers, payment companies, and fintechs, to integrate and offer banking, cryptocurrency, and payment services. ^[5] The company's stated mission is to "shape the future of finance with a focus on freedom and autonomy" by simplifying access to digital assets. ^[1] Its core business revolves around its "Banking as a Service and Crypto" (BaaSiC) platform, which offers B2B solutions through a single API integration. ^[5] This platform enables clients to embed services like digital asset custody, on/off-ramp solutions for converting fiat to crypto, and payment processing. ^[6]​

The company's origins trace back to 2015, when its founders began operating a cryptocurrency arbitrage fund to capitalize on price differences between Brazilian and international exchanges. ^[3] To address internal inefficiencies in moving Brazilian Reals across borders for these operations, the team developed an internal settlement tool. This tool evolved into the BRZ token, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Brazilian Real. Recognizing a broader market need for an efficient digital representation of the Real, the company was formally established as Transfero Swiss AG in Zug, Switzerland's "Crypto Valley," in 2017. It pivoted its business model from an arbitrage fund to a blockchain infrastructure provider, with BRZ becoming its flagship public product. ^{[3] [2]}​

Transfero is a regulated financial intermediary in Switzerland and a member of the Financial Services Standards Association (VQF), a self-regulatory organization (SRO) recognized under Swiss anti-money laundering law. ^[1] Partner Finery Markets has referred to Transfero as "LATAM’s largest fiat ramp provider." ^[7] The company maintains a global presence with offices in Brazil, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, The Bahamas, Chile, and Argentina. ^[1]​

History

Following its formal founding in 2017, Transfero launched its flagship product, the BRZ stablecoin, around 2018-2019. ^{[6] [4]} In 2020, co-founder Thiago Cesar played an instrumental role in the creation of the Brazilian Association of Cryptoeconomics (ABCripto), an organization established to engage with regulators and promote the crypto industry in Brazil. ^[7]​

The company expanded its offerings in 2022 with the launch of Transfero Checkout, a payment solution for businesses to accept cryptocurrency and Pix payments. ^[6] In October 2022, the company, with Claudio Just as a leading executive, announced an investment in the crypto management startup Notus Labs. ^{[1] [8]} This was part of a broader strategy to foster the Web3 ecosystem in Brazil.

In 2023, Transfero launched ARZ, a stablecoin pegged to the Argentine Peso, and announced a key partnership with Finery Markets. ^[6] The collaboration involved integrating Finery Markets' Electronic Communication Network (ECN) to enhance liquidity and automate its institutional Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading desk. ^[7]​

Reflecting its strategy of building a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem, Transfero made several strategic corporate moves. In December 2024, it acquired Fuse Capital, a Brazilian venture capital firm specializing in Web3. ^[2] By early 2025, the company had also secured significant minority stakes in other strategic companies, including 30% of M&A advisory firm Cremona Capital and 25% of financial workflow platform Openi. During this period of expansion, the company reported moving US$1.9 billion in crypto flows in the preceding 12 months. ^[2]​

Thiago Cesar, Founder and CEO of Transfero, described the company's approach:

"We are like the railroad builders of the 19th century. We are developing the fundamental infrastructure that will allow this economy to flourish." ^[2]

Products and Services

Transfero's products are consolidated under its main B2B platform, BaaSiC (Banking as a Service and Crypto), which provides integrated banking and crypto systems through a single API. ^{[1] [5]}​

BaaS and Crypto Infrastructure

Transfero's core offering is a suite of API-based tools that enable other businesses to incorporate digital asset services. ^[1]​

• Crypto as a Service (CaaS): Provides the foundational technology for clients to offer crypto-based financial services. This includes automated on-ramp and off-ramp solutions for converting between fiat and cryptocurrencies. Users are able to buy and sell digital assets directly with fiat currencies like the Brazilian Real. ^[6]
• Custody: A secure solution for storing and transferring crypto assets. The system utilizes multi-layer technology that combines Multi-Party Computation (MPC) cryptography with hardware isolation to secure assets. ^[5]
• Stablecoin Issuance: A platform service that allows clients to create and manage their own fiat-backed stablecoins. ^[1]

Institutional Trading (OTC)

Transfero operates an Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading desk for executing high-volume cryptocurrency trades for institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals, with reported minimums of R$100,000. ^[2] To enhance this service, Transfero integrated the FM Liquidity Match Electronic Communication Network (ECN) solution from its partner, Finery Markets. This technology automates post-trade settlement, connects Transfero to a global network of liquidity providers, and provides a price-quoting engine. The integration is designed to provide clients with deeper liquidity, more competitive pricing, and reduced operational risk. ^[7]​

Márlyson Silva, Chairman of Transfero, commented on the importance of this institutional service:

"Our main goal at Transfero is to promote access to digital assets in Latin America. The partnership with Finery Markets raises the bar on our institutional services and expands the possibilities to democratize access to crypto in the region." ^[1]

Payment and Retail Solutions

• Transfero Checkout: A payment processor that allows online and retail businesses to accept payments in both cryptocurrency and Brazil's instant payment system, Pix. Merchants receive the settled amount in their local fiat currency. ^[6]
• Transfero Ramp: A direct service for both B2B and B2C users for fiat-to-crypto transactions. ^[5]
• Transfero App and Card: The company offers a dedicated mobile application for end-users to manage funds and crypto assets, as well as a crypto-enabled card product. ^[8]

Educational Platforms

Transfero operates two educational initiatives to support adoption and understanding of the digital asset market:

• PanoramaCrypto: A major cryptocurrency news and education portal in Brazil, founded in 2015 by Thiago Cesar prior to establishing Transfero. ^[1]
• Transfero Academy: An educational platform and trainee program focused on developing new talent in blockchain, crypto, and Web3. ^[5]

Stablecoins

Transfero is a prominent issuer of fiat-backed stablecoins for the Latin American and European markets.

BRZ (Brazilian Real)

​BRZ is Transfero's flagship product and the first stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Brazilian Real. It was created to provide a stable digital asset for Brazilians to access international crypto markets, hedge against currency volatility, and facilitate global transactions like payments and remittances. ^[4] The token is fully backed by a reserve of fiat currency and other assets held in financial institutions, and Transfero states that these reserves are audited by a globally recognized third-party firm. ^[3]​

Thiago Cesar explained the origin of the token:

"BRZ started as an internal tool... We created the BRZ to make our own operations more efficient. It was only when we realised that other people had the same problem that we started to think about it as a separate product." ^[3]

The BRZ token achieved significant regulatory recognition when it was the only Brazilian Real stablecoin explicitly named in the Central Bank of Brazil's Normative Instruction No. 693, which outlines reporting procedures for virtual asset services. ^[3]​

To ensure broad accessibility and interoperability, BRZ is a multi-chain asset deployed on numerous blockchain networks, including:

• Ethereum
• Avalanche (C-Chain)
• Solana
• Stellar
• BNB Chain
• Polygon
• Algorand

This multi-chain presence allows BRZ to be used in a wide range of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, such as lending protocols and liquidity pools on platforms like Midas Capital. ^{[3] [1]}​

Other Stablecoins

In addition to BRZ, Transfero issues other fiat-backed stablecoins to serve different markets: ^[1]​

• ARZ: Pegged to the Argentine Peso, launched in 2023. ^[6]
• CLPZ: Pegged to the Chilean Peso.
• EURZ: Pegged to the Euro.

Strategic Investments and Acquisitions

As part of its mission to build the foundational "railroads" of the Web3 economy, Transfero has been active in strategic investments and acquisitions, managed through its venture arm, Transfero Ventures. ^{[8] [2]}​

• Fuse Capital: In December 2024, Transfero acquired Fuse Capital, a Brazilian venture capital firm focused on Web3, integrating its investment and analysis capabilities directly into Transfero's operations. ^[2]
• Notus Labs (Mzic.co): In October 2022, Transfero invested in Notus Labs, a startup developing on-chain solutions to connect TradFi and DeFi, particularly in the music and entertainment industry. Notus later became known as Mzic.co, a DeFi-powered financing hub for artists. Transfero provided its BRZ stablecoin and BaaS infrastructure to support Notus's product development. ^{[2] [8]}
• Minority Stakes: As of early 2025, Transfero held a 30% stake in M&A advisory firm Cremona Capital and a 25% strategic investment in financial workflow platform Openi. ^[2]
• Troop: Transfero has also made an investment in Troop, an NFT marketplace, further diversifying its portfolio within the digital asset space. ^[4]

Key People

• Thiago Cesar: Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is a pioneer of the crypto ecosystem in Brazil and was instrumental in the creation of BRZ. ^{[3] [2]}
• Márlyson Silva: Chairman of Transfero. ^[1]
• Carlos Russo: Co-founder and has held roles including Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). ^{[3] [5]}
• Guilherme Skliarevsky: Co-founder and Head of LATAM. ^[3]
• Claudio Just: Has served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO), and leads the company's venture arm, Transfero Ventures. ^{[1] [8]}
• Safiri Felix: Head of Institutional Relations and a co-founder of the company. ^{[3] [7]}