What is Pix?
Pix is Brazil's instant payment system, created and operated by the Banco Central do Brasil, which moves reais between accounts in Brazil in seconds, 24 hours a day, every day. It is domestic: a payment from abroad must first be converted to reais by an authorized foreign exchange institution. Example (invented, for illustration only): a São Paulo distributor pays a R$9,800 invoice at 11:00 p.m. on a Sunday by entering its supplier's Pix key, the supplier's company tax number, and the supplier sees the money at once.
- The Banco Central do Brasil reports more than 7.8 billion Pix transactions worth more than R$3.8 trillion in September 2026.
- More than 150 million individuals used Pix in September 2026, and the single-day record was 318,116,744 transactions on 4 September 2026.
- A Pix key is an alias for an account, such as a tax number, mobile number, email address or random key.
- Pix moves only reais between accounts at Brazilian institutions, so a payment from a US bank cannot be sent by Pix directly.
How Pix works
Pix was created by the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), which also operates it. It runs every day of the year, so a payment made at night or on a public holiday arrives as quickly as one made on a weekday morning. A payer can send a Pix in two ways: with the payee's Pix key, or with the bank, branch and account number plus the payee's tax number. The BCB describes a Pix key as an alias for an account, such as a tax number (CPF for individuals, CNPJ for companies), a mobile number, an email address or a random key generated by the bank.
| Pix fact | Figure published by the Banco Central do Brasil |
|---|---|
| Transactions in September 2026 | More than 7.8 billion |
| Value in September 2026 | More than R$3.8 trillion |
| Individuals who used Pix in September 2026 | More than 150 million |
| Single-day record | 318,116,744 transactions on 4 September 2026 |
| Availability | 24 hours a day, every day of the year |
| Cost | Free for individuals, lower cost for companies |
Sources: Banco Central do Brasil, Pix and Sobre o Pix pages. As published on 29 October 2026.
Where a business meets Pix
Brazilian suppliers often ask foreign buyers "can you just send a Pix?", because that is how their domestic customers pay. A US company cannot do so from a US bank account. Money from abroad must pass through an institution authorized to operate in Brazil's foreign exchange market, which closes a foreign exchange contract and credits reais. Services marketed as Pix for international payments work in two steps: the dollars are received and converted by an authorized institution, and the reais are then paid out by Pix.
Pix still matters to a foreign buyer. Once the conversion is done in Brazil, the last step to the supplier's account can be a Pix, which arrives in seconds at any hour. For a Brazilian exporter, Pix is how dollars received and converted become payroll, taxes and supplier payments in reais. Our guide to paying suppliers in Brazil covers both routes.
Common mistakes with Pix
- Asking a foreign buyer to pay by Pix. Pix is domestic. A buyer abroad pays by SWIFT wire or through a provider that converts and pays out in reais.
- Using an unverified Pix key. A key points to whatever account its owner registered. Confirm the key with the supplier and check that it belongs to the company on the invoice.
- Paying a third party's key. Pay the supplier's own key, ideally its company tax number, so the payment matches the invoice and the exchange contract.
- Forgetting the foreign exchange step. A conversion from dollars is a foreign exchange operation with its own documents and purpose code, even if the final leg is a Pix.
Related terms and how Helm handles it
Pix plays the role in Brazil that SPEI plays in Mexico and Faster Payments in the UK. Payments from abroad arrive first by SWIFT and carry a purpose code for the exchange contract.
Helm pays suppliers by SWIFT and by local rails where available; the account manager confirms the route for payouts in reais. The rate, fee and expected arrival are shown before you send.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What is Pix?
Pix is Brazil's instant payment system, created and operated by the Banco Central do Brasil. It moves reais between accounts in Brazil in seconds, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Can I pay a Brazilian supplier by Pix from the US?
Not directly. Pix moves reais between accounts in Brazil, and money from abroad must pass through an institution authorized to operate in Brazil's foreign exchange market. A provider can convert the dollars and pay the supplier by Pix in Brazil.
What is a Pix key?
An alias for a bank account, such as a tax number, mobile number, email address or random key. A Pix can also be sent with the bank, branch and account number plus the recipient's tax number.
How many people use Pix?
The Banco Central do Brasil reports that more than 150 million individuals used Pix in September 2026, with more than 7.8 billion transactions that month.
Is Pix free?
The Banco Central do Brasil states that Pix is free for individuals and has a lower cost for companies. Banks set the charges for business accounts.
References
- Banco Central do Brasil: Pix
- Banco Central do Brasil: Sobre o Pix
- Banco Central do Brasil: How to send money abroad or receive money from abroad in foreign currency (FAQ)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 277, de 31 de dezembro de 2022 (foreign exchange market)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.