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Classification announced by the Donald Trump government increases pressure on the financial system and may enhance monitoring against money laundering
The decision by the United States to classify PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations has put the Brazilian financial system on alert.
The measure was announced on Thursday, May 28, 2026, by the Donald Trump government. The two factions were also included in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
As of June 5, 2026, PCC and Comando Vermelho will be part of the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The change expands financial control instruments provided by American legislation.
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Experts consulted by g1 assess that the decision should not cause immediate trade barriers between Brazil and the United States. The main effect is expected to arise in the monitoring of financial transactions.
Monitoring of PIX and banks is expected to gain new intensity
The financial system appears as the sector most exposed to the effects of the new classification.
Institutions that maintain operations in dollars or have relationships with the American market tend to reinforce internal processes for customer identification and resource tracking.
Banks, fintechs, credit cooperatives, and payment institutions should enhance mechanisms for preventing money laundering.
The PIX, which moves billions of reais daily, also starts receiving additional attention from regulatory bodies and financial institutions.
Investigations conducted by the Federal Police have already identified the use of digital accounts, shell companies, and electronic transfers to conceal the origin of illicit funds.
Operation Hidden Flow, conducted this week, investigated the use of so-called “pocket accounts” by the known nafta mafia, a mechanism that complicates transaction tracking.
Felipe Sant’Anna, an analyst at Axia Investing, highlighted to g1 that tracking the money is usually one of the first measures adopted in actions to combat organized crime.
Difference between Brazilian and American laws concerns investors
Brazil continues to classify PCC and Comando Vermelho as criminal factions.
The United States, on the other hand, has started to classify these groups under anti-terrorism legislation. The difference creates a more cautious environment for investors and companies with international operations.
Any direct or indirect link with resources tied to the groups may receive stricter treatment under American legislation.
Brazilian companies operating abroad or with shares traded in international markets may face more rigorous audit processes.
Milene Dellatore, managing partner of Grupo Mide, told g1 that the most significant impact tends to be reputational.
Sectors such as fuel, logistics, infrastructure, ports, and real estate market may face higher levels of scrutiny and monitoring.
Beny Fard, partner at B8 Partners, emphasized that the change mainly affects the regulatory and operational environment of companies.
Dollar and stock market may register higher volatility
Risk perception usually directly influences investor behavior.
Cautious movements generally lead to a reduction in exposure to markets considered riskier, increasing pressure on the exchange rate.
The so-called country risk may gain relevance in this scenario. Investors begin to demand higher returns to keep resources invested in the local market.
Felipe Sant’Anna noted that investors have already reduced positions in sectors more sensitive to uncertainties, especially banks and retail.
Market data shows that the Ibovespa accumulated a drop of 0.64% for the week and a decline of 6.53% for the month up to Thursday.
International geopolitical tensions also remain on investors’ radar and contribute to the cautious environment observed in the markets.
The new classification announced by the United States increases attention on international financial operations and reinforces resource tracking mechanisms.
The market is monitoring the next developments to assess to what extent the measure could alter the risk perception of Brazil and its main economic sectors.
To what extent can the United States’ decision change the way banks, investors, and companies perceive financial risk in Brazil?
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