B3 Unveils Tokenization and Stablecoin Initiative for 2026

Brazil’s primary stock exchange b3 is making a significant move into the digital assets space by introducing a comprehensive tokenization platform alongside its own stablecoin later this year. According to Luiz Masagão, b3’s vice president of products and clients, this strategic push represents a major evolution in how traditional financial markets and cryptocurrency infrastructure can coexist and operate seamlessly together.

Unified Liquidity Pool: Breaking Down the Barrier Between Traditional and Digital

The core innovation of b3’s tokenization platform lies in its shared liquidity mechanism. When assets are tokenized on the b3 platform, they will trade alongside traditional securities within a single integrated system. Masagão emphasized that this design creates a frictionless experience for market participants: “Token buyers won’t be aware they’re purchasing from traditional stock sellers, as both transaction types draw from the same liquidity reservoir.”

This approach solves a critical challenge in hybrid markets—fragmented liquidity across separate platforms. By consolidating tokenized and conventional assets into one trading pool, b3 aims to accelerate adoption of digital asset formats while maintaining compatibility with existing trading infrastructure.

B3’s Stablecoin: Powering Settlement in the Tokenized Ecosystem

To facilitate transactions within this new tokenized environment, b3 will issue a dedicated stablecoin pegged to the Brazilian real. Rather than serving as a speculative asset, this stablecoin functions as the operational backbone of the platform, handling payments and settlement operations that traditionally relied on cash transfer processes.

Masagão noted that “the stablecoin will serve as a critical tool enabling token trading,” with its real-backed design particularly suited for domestic investors and institutions operating within Brazil’s regulatory framework. This localized approach reduces reliance on international stablecoins and strengthens monetary sovereignty.

Expanding the Crypto Derivatives Landscape Under Regulatory Scrutiny

Beyond tokenization and stablecoins, b3 is diversifying its cryptocurrency-linked products. The exchange is currently developing weekly options contracts on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, along with event-driven contracts tied to cryptocurrency price movements. These instruments are presently undergoing review by Brazil’s securities regulator, the CVM (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários).

This expansion reflects growing institutional demand for structured crypto exposure through regulated channels rather than decentralized protocols.

B3’s Cryptocurrency Journey: From ETFs to Infrastructure Provider

B3’s crypto credentials run deeper than recent announcements suggest. The exchange has been systematically building digital asset exposure since April 2021, when it listed its first cryptocurrency ETF—significantly ahead of U.S. exchanges. Today, b3 offers products linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and broader crypto indices.

Approximately 600,000 investors hold these products, representing roughly $2.4 billion in assets under management. Recently, asset manager Valour added four new exchange-traded products (ETPs) to b3’s platform, further expanding the menu of crypto-linked investment vehicles available to Brazilian market participants.

The Broader Context: RWA Momentum and Market Maturation

B3’s tokenization initiative arrives as the real-world assets (RWA) market reaches new heights. The RWA sector has expanded to $18 billion in 2026, with tokenized commodities and U.S. Treasury debt forming the majority of on-chain assets. B3’s move positions the exchange as both an operator and enabler of this broader tokenization trend, leveraging its regulatory standing and market infrastructure to capture emerging opportunities in the digital assets space.

By combining traditional securities expertise with crypto-native tools, b3 is constructing a blueprint for how established financial institutions can evolve alongside blockchain technology without abandoning the institutional guardrails that define modern capital markets.