São Paulo Launches Tanssi Blockchain Microloan Program

• São Paulo will launch a blockchain-backed microloan system for small rural producers.
• Tanssi’s blockchain system supports controlled microloans delivered through a closed app.
• Brazil plans tax changes for cross-border cryptocurrency transfers using stablecoins.

Brazil is entering a new phase of blockchain deployment as São Paulo prepares to launch a government-backed microloan system for small rural producers. The project uses an infrastructure developed by the Brazilian fintech firm Tanssi. 

The new program would begin next month and aims to improve access to fast, controlled credit through a mobile app and physical payment machines. Tanssi’s Director of Business Development, Luis Dal Porto, confirmed the launch during an interview at the Blockchain Conference Brasil in São Paulo. 

Microloan System Enters Final Deployment Stage

He stated that the application supporting the lending service is already active. The final steps now involve operational adjustments before borrowers in rural areas gain access to the new system.

The program offers loans of up to R$15,000 ($2,800). These microloans target small producers who often face delays and high costs in traditional credit channels. The structure operates on a blockchain that remains entirely in the background. 

Users do not interact with blockchain interfaces. They access funds through a simple mobile application or payment terminals operated within the program’s closed environment.

Dal Porto explained that the system was designed to ensure oversight of how each loan is used. The closed ecosystem allows authorities to track credit flows and limit misuse. It also reduces lender risk and helps administrators maintain financial discipline within the program.

Developers chose Tanssi’s infrastructure over public blockchains such as Ethereum or Solana. Dal Porto said the decision was linked to concerns about performance, cost stability, and predictable transaction behavior. Public networks could experience congestion, fee spikes, and interruptions. 

Predictability was a critical requirement set by the project’s administrators. They needed to know that each transaction would remain within the same cost range throughout the program’s operation. Dal Porto noted that unpredictable fees could disrupt lending margins or force budget adjustments. Dedicated blockchain environments avoid these issues by stabilizing transaction parameters.

The new São Paulo system builds on the Santo Antônio da Alegria pilot announced last year. That earlier initiative introduced a token-based local currency used to distribute municipal aid such as food benefits. 

The tokens operated within a closed loop. They blocked spending on categories unrelated to the intended aid, including gambling and certain entertainment services. Local officials used the restrictions to maintain control over how public resources were allocated.

While Brazil’s central bank has slowed the broader rollout of Drex, the national digital currency, local experiments continue to expand. Municipal and private actors are moving ahead with blockchain-based financial tools. These efforts focus on targeted aid, credit distribution, and local-level digital economies.

Related: Brazil Enforces $7 Million Crypto Capital Rule and FX Limits

Brazil Weighs New Crypto Tax Rules

At the national level, Brazil is also reviewing the tax implications of cryptocurrency use in international payments. Two officials involved in the discussions told Reuters about the proposal. They said the Finance Ministry is considering applying the IOF, the country’s financial transaction tax.

The proposal would cover cross-border transfers executed with digital assets or stablecoins. The central bank classified such operations as foreign-exchange transactions, opening the door for tax adjustments.

Government figures show rapid growth in Brazil’s crypto activity. Transactions reached 227 billion reais ($42.8 billion) in the first half of 2025. This reflects a 20% increase from the same period a year earlier. Stablecoin activity dominates the market. USDT accounted for two-thirds of all transactions, while Bitcoin’s share reached only 11%.

Officials say stablecoins are often used as low-cost tools to hold dollar balances. They warn that this trend could create regulatory gaps if not monitored. Authorities aim to ensure that digital asset flows do not bypass rules applied to the traditional foreign-exchange sector.