Mercado Bitcoin Becomes Brazil’s First Crypto Unicorn with Softbank Round

After raising US$ 200 million from Softbank Latin America FundBrazilian cryptocurrency exchange Mercado BitcoinKnown as the “Latest Unicorn” in the country, it is the name given to technology companies with a combined value of more than US$ 1 Billion.

25 billion Brazilian Reais (US$4.9 billion) during the same period. This is more than the total amount recorded since 2013.

The company, valued at US$ 2.1 million, is also the first Brazilian crypto unicorn. The transaction was announced Thursday (1).2TM GroupBased on Crunchbase data, the company stated that the holding controlling Mercado bitcoin was the eighth-most valuable unicorn of Latin America.

Mercado Bitcoin stated that this deal was Softbank’s largest Series A investment in cryptocurrency and Latin America.

Mercado Bitcoin claimed it has 2.8million customers. 700.000 of these customers signed up between January 2021 and May 2021. The platform’s transaction volume reached 25 billion Brazilian Reais (US$4.9 billion) during the same period. This is more than the total amount recorded since 2013.

“Millions upon millions of people have realized that digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and innovative technologies are efficient value reserves and that they can be used to create them,” said Mr. Brazil is not an exception”.Roberto Dagnoni2TM Group CEO,

The new funding will be used to fund infrastructure in order to meet the current demand for cryptocurrency assets as well as areas such as recruitment. The firm plans to increase its 500-strong workforce by 40% by year’s end. It also intends to grow other companies within the group such as a digital wallet.MeubankDigital assets and custodianBitrust. The Mercado Bitcoin deal brings the total number of Brazilian unicorns to 17. This space includes digital bank companies.NubankCorporate Wellness FirmGympassReal estate companyQuinto AndarFirm for cross-border payments and bankingEbanxAll of these companies have announced new rounds for 2021.