In the summer, when a boom in travel to Brazil is expected, as happened last year, Payment options have been expanded with PIX In the neighboring country, following the popularity this method has gained among Argentines: last summer, they spent the equivalent 8 million US dollars Daily, according to kamiPaya company that provides technology for system platforms to operate.
For cryptocurrency wallets that already offer the option, Mercado Bajo will be added Looking forward to next season. The financial arm of Mercado Libre arrives a year later It will compete with apps like Bello, Astrobae, Lemon, Cocos Capital and Dollar applicationamong other things.
Argentines will be able to use their Mercado Pago account to pay in stores in Brazil through PIX. The new function allows you to perform Purchases are in riyals and the balance is in pesos Available in the account, without having to carry cash, cards or currency exchange, and with the same application they use every day in Argentina.
The company explained this The “Pay with PIX” option will be enabled gradually For all users. “They will have a simple, fast and secure experience. From the app, QR code can be scanned Add it or enter your Pix key (a kind of alias) to complete the payment directly from your account.
Created by the Brazilian Central Bank, The PIX instant payment system is the most widely used in the neighboring country It is available in all types of businesses, from street businesses to local shopping malls and street vendors who use it on the beach.
In instant conversion, the app converts the riyal to the peso. In this way, It is not necessary to use savings in dollars, look for an ATM or go to an exchange shopThis saves the time and commissions involved in these procedures.
The launch comes at the same time as the strong growth of tourism in Brazil. According to data from Brazilian Tourism Institute (Imperator), more than 2.9 million of Argentines traveled to Brazilian destinations between January and October of this year, an increase of 85% compared to the same period in 2024. Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 summer season, greater movement is expected, with an increase in 31.6% On flights between the two countries.
“We continue to facilitate payments for people when they travel abroad. With this new solution, they will be able to use the same app of their choice every day for their purchases in Brazil. It was a highly requested feature. Because Brazil is one of the favorite destinations of Argentinians when planning their vacations. Alejandro MelhemSenior Vice President of Mercado Pago for Latin America.
This initiative joins other developments promoted by Mercado Pago in the region to facilitate payments for tourists. at the moment, Argentines traveling to Uruguay can also pay using Mercado Pago QRwhile Brazilians can pay through PIX In local companies in Argentina whose fees are collected through the “Point Smart” collection station.