A crypto exchange in Brazil receives BRL 2 million a day in Pix deposits from users who want USDT. At the end of the day, other users withdraw USDT and expect reais back in their bank accounts. The product team needs USDT to BRL conversion, and the reverse, running inside the app without manual steps.
An on-ramp receives BRL, usually via Pix, and delivers USDT to a wallet; an off-ramp does the reverse and pays BRL out via Pix. In Brazil both are FX operations under the Central Bank’s rules, and the provider runs KYC on each side.
What are on-ramps and off-ramps?
An on-ramp is the entry from fiat into crypto: reais in, stablecoin out. An off-ramp is the exit: stablecoin in, reais out.
For a business, a ramp is a service connected to its product through an API. Each conversion happens automatically when a user deposits or withdraws, without a trader in the middle.
Transfero’s analysis of traditional currencies and stablecoins in the same transaction shows how both sides meet in one payment flow.
Who needs a ramp?
Any company whose product moves between reais and stablecoins on a continuous basis. Four profiles concentrate most of the demand.
Exchanges
Users deposit reais to buy crypto and withdraw reais after selling. The ramp turns those Pix flows into stablecoin balances and back.
PSPs
Payment service providers use stablecoins to settle cross-border payments. The ramp converts the BRL they collect into USDT, or the USDT they receive into BRL.
Fintechs
Apps that offer a dollar balance or crypto purchases need the conversion behind the button. The ramp runs in the background of the user experience.
Companies holding stablecoin treasury
Companies that keep part of their treasury in stablecoins use the ramp to move between that balance and the reais they need for local costs.
How does an on-ramp work, step by step?
The user, or the company itself, sends BRL through Pix to an account of the provider. The provider confirms the deposit, identifies the sender and quotes the conversion.
At the quoted price, the provider converts the reais into USDT. It then delivers the stablecoin to the wallet indicated by the company.
In the opening example, the exchange’s users send BRL 2 million in Pix deposits over the day. Each deposit triggers an API call, the provider converts it and credits USDT to the exchange’s wallet. The exchange reflects each balance in its users’ accounts.
Need BRL ↔ USDT inside your product? See how our ramp works.
How does an off-ramp work?
The company sends USDT to an address of the provider. The provider confirms the on-chain transfer, converts the stablecoin into reais and pays the destination account through Pix.
For the exchange, this is the withdrawal flow. A user asks to withdraw, the exchange sends USDT to the provider and the user receives reais in the bank account linked to their CPF.
Both directions share the same building blocks: a Pix leg, an on-chain leg and a conversion in between.
API ramp or OTC desk: when to use each?
An API ramp fits continuous, smaller conversions triggered by users. An OTC desk fits large blocks negotiated with a locked price for the whole amount.
Criterion | API ramp | OTC desk
|
|---|---|---|
Trigger | Each user deposit or withdrawal | A treasury decision |
Size | Many small and medium amounts | Large blocks |
Price | Quoted per conversion | Locked for the whole block |
Integration | API inside the product | Request for quote and confirmation |
Many companies use both: the ramp for daily user flows and the desk to rebalance treasury.
How is the price set?
The USDT/BRL price follows the dollar against the real, because USDT tracks the US dollar. The provider starts from that reference and adds its spread or fee.
Size, time of day and market conditions influence the final price. Compare providers on the BRL received or paid per USDT, not on a headline rate.
Transfero’s comparison of the differences between USDT, USDC, EURC and BRZ explains how each stablecoin is backed. BRZ, the Brazilian real stablecoin issued by Transfero since 2019, is backed 1:1 by reais.
What compliance checks happen?
A ramp is an FX operation in Brazil. BCB Resolution No. 521, of November 10, 2025, added article 76-A to BCB Resolution No. 277: since February 2, 2026, buying, selling and swapping stablecoins, and transfers to and from self-custodied wallets, are FX market operations.
Transfers to a self-custodied wallet require identifying the owner of that wallet. The provider also runs KYC on the company and screens each transaction.
Resolution 521 sets a specific limit as well. Under article 29, a virtual asset service provider is limited to USD 100,000 per operation when its counterparty is not an institution authorized to operate FX.
How does Transfero’s ramp work?
Transfero’s Crypto as a Service (CaaS) gives exchanges, fintechs, neobanks and wallets ramps, swaps, payments and custody through an API, as licensed infrastructure within a regulated framework with built-in KYC and AML.
BRL on-ramps and off-ramps through Pix, via Transfero’s crypto infrastructure
Custody powered by Fireblocks
Swaps and payments in the same integration
KYC and AML built into the flow
A global top-five exchange used this setup to run BRL on/off-ramp, BRZ and KYC in one integration. According to the published case, its trading volume grew 200%. The platform processed more than 9.8 million transactions in 2025.
Questions to ask before integrating a ramp
How many conversions per day, and of what size, will your product generate?
Do you need on-ramp, off-ramp or both?
How does the provider identify the owners of self-custodied wallets?
How is the price quoted, and how is it shown to your users?
Which conversions should go through the ramp, and which through an OTC desk?
How does the provider handle the FX rules of Resolution 521?
Talk to our team about BRL on/off-ramps.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a BRL to USDT conversion?
The Pix leg confirms in seconds, and the on-chain transfer depends on the network. The total time also depends on the provider’s checks and conversion process. Ask each provider for the full cycle, from Pix deposit to USDT in the wallet, and the reverse.
Which networks are supported?
It depends on the provider. Each one supports a set of blockchain networks for each stablecoin, and that list can change. Confirm the networks with your provider before integration, and make sure your wallets and users use the same network on every transfer.
Is there a minimum amount?
Each provider sets its own conditions. Ramps are built for frequent conversions of different sizes, while very large amounts usually go through an OTC desk. Check the provider’s terms for the flows your product will generate.
Does the end user need a Brazilian CPF?
For the Pix leg, the account that sends or receives reais is tied to a CPF or CNPJ. The provider also identifies the parties involved as part of its KYC. Foreign users without a Brazilian account usually need a different route for the fiat side.
