Financial Market: Top News from April 7 to 11

The Brazilian Association of Credit Card and Services Companies (Abecs) presented, last Monday (April 7), a proposal to include electronic payment methods, such as cards, in Open Finance. The goal is to better integrate financial ecosystems, expand the use of payment transaction initiation, and offer more efficiency, innovation, and security for consumers and businesses.The entity highlights that the inclusion of cards would bring benefits such as higher sales conversion, ease of payment, and facilitated access to credit.According to the association, the insertion of cards into the Open Finance environment would bring significant positive impacts, such as: increased sales conversion for retail; reduction of friction in purchase journeys, especially in transactions via links; and expansion of access to credit.

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Abecs presents a proposal for the inclusion of cards in Open Finance

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published on Tuesday (April 8) a study on the use of supervisory technologies (SupTech) by regulatory bodies around the world to enhance banking supervision. Based on data from the BCB, the research evaluated whether these technologies are effective in disciplining banks' risk behavior. The results show that, after SupTech events, banks tend to reveal hidden credit risks, increase loss provisions, and restrict lending to less reliable borrowers, which improves the quality of their portfolios. The study indicates that these effects arise mainly from a channel of moral persuasion, in which increased regulatory attention leads banks to adopt more conservative risk management practices aligned with the supervisor’s expectations. The study reinforces the role of SupTech as a strategic tool for financial stability.

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The Disciplinary Effect of Banking Supervision: Evidence from SupTech

On Wednesday (April 9), the BCB launched a public consultation on a regulatory proposal to standardize the accounting treatment of assets and liabilities related to sustainability actions. The proposal amends BCB Resolution No. 2/2020 to require the inclusion of these elements in the balance sheets of financial and authorized institutions. Currently, there are no specific rules for these items, which results in differing accounting treatments. The draft defines concepts, classification criteria, and measurement methods for these assets and liabilities, taking into account the institutions’ business models. The rules are based on OCPC 10 guidance from the Accounting Pronouncements Committee and align with CVM Resolution 223/2024. Suggestions can be submitted until May 31, 2025.

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CB launches public consultation on the accounting treatment of assets and liabilities related to sustainability actions

On Thursday (April 10), Febraban presented the results of the first volume of the “Febraban Banking Technology Survey 2025,” an annual study conducted with the country’s main banks to map the state of technology in the sector and identify its trends. The survey revealed that Brazilian banks are expected to invest R$ 47.8 billion in technology in 2025, a 13% increase compared to 2024. This growth is driven by strategic initiatives focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI (GenAI), and Cloud, areas that are expected to receive significant investments. The survey also highlights the priority placed on cybersecurity, the incorporation of AI to improve efficiency and service personalization, and the expectation of a 15% increase in the number of IT professionals.

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Banks’ investment in technology expected to grow 13% in 2025 and reach R$ 47.8 billion

Pix expected to receive nearly 50% more bank technology investment in 2025

At least two companies participating in the Drex pilot — Microsoft and EY — have scaled back their involvement in the project due to high technical requirements and the costs imposed by the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB). The privacy solutions being tested, which are essential to ensure banking secrecy within the decentralized network, have not yet met all of the monetary authority’s criteria. Microsoft has reduced its focus on the project, but the ZKP Nova tool will continue to be tested by the tokenization platform Hamsa. EY, in turn, has lost its dedicated team in Brazil. Despite the challenges — such as technical difficulties and lower project visibility under the current BCB administration — banks like BV and Bradesco remain committed to the initiative. The BCB emphasized that Drex remains a strategic project and that the next steps are under discussion to drive innovation in the financial system.

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Companies 'hit the brakes' on Drex and call attention to difficulties with the Central Bank