How to Accept Pix as a Foreign Company: Infrastructure, Compliance, and Global Settlement

Introduction

Pix is Brazil’s dominant payment rail. It’s fast, low-cost, and regulated by the Central Bank. For a company outside Brazil, the core question is simple: how do you accept Pix without opening a local entity or taking FX/compliance risk?

The path is to operate on top of a Local Payment Infrastructure (LPI): accept funds domestically, settle abroad, and keep every step compliant by design. This guide shows the model, the flow, and how KRX Scale abstracts the heavy lifting.

Contents

• 1. Understanding the nature of Pix
• 2. The structural challenges for foreign companies
• 3. The modern solution: local payments with global settlement
• 4. Technical and operational flow
• 5. Compliance and regulatory integrity
• 6. Advantages of operating through KRX Scale
• 7. Use case: a global SaaS company entering Brazil
• Conclusion
• FAQ

1. Understanding the nature of Pix

Pix runs on Brazil’s Instant Payment System (SPI). Only licensed financial institutions can plug in directly.

Foreign companies therefore connect via a regulated local intermediary that receives Pix onshore and executes compliant settlement offshore.

2. The structural challenges for foreign companies

The barriers fall into three main categories:

• Regulatory: every SPI participant must have a local corporate registration (CNPJ) and Central Bank authorization.
• Foreign exchange: all BRL inflows destined for overseas settlement require a formal FX contract.
• Taxation: operating through a Brazilian entity triggers ongoing tax and reporting obligations.

Setting up this structure takes months, requires significant local expertise, and introduces operational complexity — often impractical for companies simply seeking to test or scale efficiently into the Brazilian market.

3. The modern solution: local payments with global settlement

The scalable model is “local in, global out.” A licensed Brazilian provider processes Pix, performs KYC/AML, and settles internationally in USD (or stablecoins) under a formal FX contract.

The merchant receives net proceeds abroad without creating a Brazilian entity or running local banking.

This is exactly what KRX Scale abstracts for you:

• Local acceptance via Pix, SPEI, PSE, and other regional methods.
• Automated USD or stablecoin settlement.
• Integrated compliance (AML, KYB, FX contracts, reconciliation).
• A single API that removes the need for local banking or incorporation.

4. Technical and operational flow

In practice, a transaction looks like this:

1. The customer in Brazil selects Pix at checkout.
2. KRX Scale generates the QR code and validates the payment in real time.
3. The payment is received by a licensed financial institution in Brazil.
4. The platform executes the foreign exchange contract and settles in USD to the merchant's global account.
5. The API confirms the transaction and reconciles the merchant's balance.

Result: no local entity, no onshore banking. Companies typically see faster go‑live and lower operating costs versus a subsidiary-led approach.

5. Compliance and regulatory integrity

All transactions follow the Central Bank’s Circular 3,978/2020 and Resolution 4,593/2017 (AML/KYC/FX). Key elements include:

Compliance elements include:

• Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and KYB verification.
• Registration of transaction nature (cross-border service revenue).
• Automated AML and volume reporting.
• Data retention and audit readiness for five years.

KRX Scale automates these procedures within its API, ensuring full regulatory conformity without compromising user experience.

6. Advantages of operating through KRX Scale

• Regulatory — Fully compliant with Central Bank and FX regulations.
• Settlement — Receive in USD or stablecoins with automated reconciliation.
• Speed — Settlement in T+1 after Pix confirmation.
• Scalability — Supports Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and other markets.
• Integration — Single API, technical documentation, and digital onboarding.
• Cost — No need for local entity or banking infrastructure.

7. Use case: a global SaaS company entering Brazil

A U.S.-based SaaS wants to bill Brazilian users in BRL. With KRX Scale, it can:

• Offer Pix as a native payment method via API integration.
• Receive USD settlements directly into its global account.
• Stay compliant with all FX and AML regulations.
• Maintain full auditability and reporting across regions.

Outcome: higher conversion from local methods and lower total cost of settlement — without incorporating locally.

Conclusion: Pix as the gateway to Latin America

Accepting Pix as a foreign company is a strategic choice — not a technical hurdle. Done right, it accelerates market entry and keeps risk low.

With KRX Scale, you accept locally and settle globally — integrating in days, operating compliantly, and avoiding onshore overhead.

Accept Pix, SPEI, and other local methods with USD settlement — no local entity, no regulatory friction, compliance by design.

FAQ

1. Is it legal for a foreign company to accept Pix without a CNPJ?

Yes. As long as the transaction is processed by a licensed local institution and formalized through an FX contract, it is fully compliant.

2. How long does onboarding with KRX Scale take?

Merchant onboarding and API integration can typically be completed within 72 hours after KYC approval.

3. Can settlement occur in USD or stablecoins?

Yes. Settlement can be configured in USD or stablecoins, depending on contract terms and jurisdiction.

4. Does KRX Scale support other countries besides Brazil?

Yes. The infrastructure is compatible with SPEI (Mexico), PSE (Colombia), QRIS (Indonesia), and other local systems.

5. Is there a minimum transaction volume required?

No minimum applies during the initial phase. Settlement limits are defined according to the merchant's regulatory profile.