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New Feature, One of the Most Anticipated in the Market, Takes a Back Seat While the Agency Rushes to Close Security Gaps Exploited by Organized Crime.
The launch of Installment Pix, one of the most anticipated features of the instant payment system, has been officially postponed by the Central Bank (BC). The decision, which frustrates the expectations of the market and consumers, was motivated by the urgent need to strengthen the security of the national financial system. According to information gathered by InfoMoney, the discovery of ties between financial institutions and the First Command of the Capital (PCC), combined with a wave of cyberattacks, has triggered a maximum alert at the agency, which now prioritizes the fight against million-dollar frauds.
With the change in direction, the BC’s top priority has become the closure of regulatory loopholes that have been exploited by criminal organizations. Instead of moving forward with new credit features, the institution is focusing its efforts on a robust package of measures to protect users and the integrity of the Pix ecosystem, indicating that security has become the non-negotiable agenda of the moment.
Organized Crime as a Catalyst for Change
The decision to pause the expansion of Pix was not arbitrary but a direct response to serious and concrete threats. Recent investigations, widely reported by InfoMoney, uncovered a complex network where smaller payment institutions were being used to launder money and facilitate the operations of the PCC. These financial institutions, with lighter regulation, have become the weak link in the system, allowing the movement of illicit funds and the mass creation of shell accounts, resulting in diversions amounting to millions.
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In light of this scenario, the Central Bank acted decisively to stop the bleeding. The first line of action was the imposition of a limit of R$ 15,000 for transactions via Pix or TED conducted by unlicensed payment institutions. Additionally, it became mandatory to automatically reject operations with consistent signs of fraud, forcing companies to enhance their risk analysis engines. These measures are seen as an effort to financially suffocate the activities of organized crime within the legal system.
New Calendar and the Future of Security in Pix
The impact on the schedule of Installment Pix was immediate and significant. The original calendar, released in June, anticipated the publication of the regulation for the new tool in September. Now, with the reorganization of priorities, the most optimistic forecast points to the publication of the regulation in October and the user experience manual only in December. Sources from the market consulted by InfoMoney indicate that the actual delay could be up to three months, pushing the start of implementation to 2026.
While Installment Pix waits in line, the Central Bank is preparing a new regulatory offensive. Stricter rules are under public consultation and development to combat the use of shell accounts and pool accounts, which are used to disperse and hide the origin of illicit funds. Furthermore, the agency is targeting operations with cryptoassets and promises to increase the requirements for intermediaries of international transfers (eFX), tightening the net on all fronts where vulnerabilities have been identified.
In summary, the postponement of Installment Pix reflects a strategic choice by the Central Bank: temporarily sacrificing innovation for security and the integrity of the financial system. The measure, although frustrating for the market, is a clear message that the fight against fraud and organized crime has become the number one priority, seeking to ensure that the country’s largest financial inclusion tool does not become a gateway to illegality.
Do you agree with this change? Do you think it impacts the market? Leave your opinion in the comments; we want to hear from those who live this in practice.
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