Brazil's Central Bank Proposes Measures to Curb Abuse of Pix Transaction Messages

The Central Bank of Brazil (BC) is studying measures to prevent the use of the Pix transaction description field for sending threats and offensive messages. According to a management report released on Monday, the BC identified that users have been using the field for purposes other than objective payment information, often by sending transfers of negligible value. A working group has been established within the Pix Forum to discuss regulatory alternatives to preserve the integrity of the tool without compromising its essential characteristics.

Beyond the crackdown on abusive messages, the BC is developing a fraud probability score using artificial intelligence and machine learning. This indicator would help financial institutions decide whether to proceed with a transaction, although the BC noted that its availability to participants depends on further legal and technical evaluations. Other security improvements include the standardization of scam alerts to notify customers of suspicious transactions.

The management report also highlighted the growth of the system, with 2025 recording a record R$ 35.36 trillion in transfers, a 33.6 percent increase over 2024. Future plans for the system include the introduction of international Pix, credit guarantees, hybrid billing, and a tax split related to tax reform. While center and center-left reports focused on these technical and security updates, one center-left source specifically highlighted that the Brazilian payment system has drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump.