Brazilian lawmakers are considering new legislation that would officially authorize employers to pay salaries to employees using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Federal deputy Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança has introduced a bill proposing regulation of crypto payments for wages, remunerations and labor benefits.

Filed on March 12, the bill PL 957/2025 legalizes voluntary and partial salary payments in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) while also requiring employers to proceed with a part of the pay in the national currency, the Brazilian real.

Orleans-Braganza, a descendant of Brazil’s former royal family, is serving his second term as a federal deputy for São Paulo and supports Truth Social, the social media platform owned by US President Donald Trump.

Bitcoin may only account for 50% of a salary payout

In the proposed legislation, Orleans-Braganza asked lawmakers to prohibit employees from paying full salaries in crypto, capping such payments at 50%.

“The payment of salaries exclusively in virtual assets is prohibited,” except for cases involving expatriate employees or foreign workers, under the terms of regulations by the Central Bank of Brazil.

The bill also allows full crypto payments by “independent service providers,” subject to certain contractual provisions.

Otherwise, the share of the payment in the Brazilian real may not be less than 50% of the employee’s total salary payout. 

The conversion of the amount paid into crypto must follow the exchange rate officially established by an institution authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil.

This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.

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