Brazil’s payment landscape is evolving yet again with the launch this month of PIX Automático. With PIX already transforming how individuals and businesses transact, the addition of automation has major implications for the mobile ecosystem. In this post, MEF CEO Dario Betti explores how enabling automated recurring payments marks the next phase in Brazil’s instant payments journey and may impact stakeholders.
Brazil is once again setting a global benchmark in digital finance. The Central Bank of Brazil has confirmed that the much-anticipated launch of “PIX Automático” – a new automated feature in its widely-used instant payments platform PIX – will take place this month (June 2025).
This development is a major step in the evolution of Brazil’s domestic payment infrastructure, and PIX cements its place among the most successful digital payment systems worldwide. Automatic PIX – designed to facilitate recurring payments – marks a key evolution in the platform’s journey, and a significant moment for stakeholders across the mobile ecosystem, from telcos and digital wallets to app developers and fintech platforms.
What is PIX?
PIX is Brazil’s instant payment system developed and operated by the Central Bank of Brazil. Launched in November 2020, PIX allows individuals and businesses to transfer money instantly, 24/7, at no cost to individuals and very low cost to businesses. It works across different financial institutions, digital wallets, and banking apps, making it an interoperable and inclusive system.
For MEF members—spanning payments aggregators, mobile operators, fintechs, and identity platforms—PIX Automático signals a pivotal shift in the role of mobile in financial services. It demonstrates how mobile devices, smart regulation, and user-centered design can come together to deliver instant, inclusive, and efficient payment experiences.”
From the outset, PIX was designed with mobile in mind. Users can initiate payments using simple identifiers known as “PIX keys” (such as a phone number, email, or a government-issued ID), or scan QR codes to pay merchants and individuals. Thanks to this ease of use, PIX has seen unprecedented adoption across demographics, income levels, and industries.
PIX by the Numbers (as of early 2025)
- 182+ million individuals in Brazil use PIX – about 87% of the adult population.
- 19 million businesses have adopted PIX.
- In 2024 alone, PIX processed 64 billion transactions – a 53% increase year-over-year.
- The value of these transactions exceeded 26.4 trillion BRL (roughly $4.6 trillion USD).
- On December 20, 2024, PIX hit a record of 252.1 million transactions in a single day.
- P2B (person-to-business) transactions grew by 94% in 2024.
- B2B (business-to-business) transactions hit 1 trillion BRL in a single month (December 2024).
- PIX now accounts for 40% of all e-commerce volume, surpassing credit cards.
- Over 817 million PIX keys have been registered and linked to more than 547 million accounts.
These statistics are not just impressive—they signal a paradigm shift. PIX has effectively reduced Brazil’s dependence on cash, lowered payment costs, and expanded financial access for millions.
Enter Automatic PIX: Streamlining Recurring Payments
The next phase of Brazil’s payment innovation is PIX Automático, or Automatic PIX, scheduled to launch in June 2025. This new feature will enable automated recurring payments, such as subscriptions, utility bills, rent, and school fees, based on prior user authorization.
How Does PIX Automático Work?
At its core, Automatic PIX enables users to authorize a payment once, after which future payments are processed automatically and instantly, without manual intervention. Here’s a high-level view of the flow:
- A merchant requests authorization for recurring payments via a payment facilitator.
- The request is sent to the Central Bank, and then to the user’s bank or wallet.
- The user is notified via their mobile banking app to approve or reject the request.
- If approved, future payments are executed automatically, with real-time confirmations to all parties.
Multiple authorization flows will be available, offering flexibility to both users and businesses:
- In-app prompts after an initial payment.
- QR codes that combine a first payment and recurring payment setup.
- Scheduled payments with an optional auto-payment offer.
A Game-Changer for the Mobile Ecosystem
The launch of Automatic PIX reinforces several broader trends in the mobile economy:
- Payments as a Platform Layer
PIX is more than a payment method—it’s a platform layer that mobile apps, wallets, and financial services can integrate with. Automatic PIX extends this potential further. Subscription-based apps, ride-hailing services, telecoms, and utilities can now build recurring payment flows directly into mobile interfaces, leveraging PIX as infrastructure.
- Reducing Dependence on Cards
By offering a low-cost, real-time alternative to credit and debit card rails, PIX is helping businesses and consumers bypass legacy systems. This shift matters especially in mobile environments where cost, speed, and integration are key differentiators.
- Interoperability and Open Innovation
PIX shows what’s possible when regulators prioritize open standards, interoperability, and inclusion. For mobile providers outside Brazil, it serves as a reference model for designing national payment systems that are mobile-native and bank-neutral.
- Accelerating Financial Inclusion
PIX has been instrumental in driving digital payments adoption in traditionally underserved communities. Automatic PIX, by simplifying access to services like education, healthcare, and utilities, can deepen this inclusion. For mobile players focused on social impact, this is a crucial evolution.
What Comes Next?
Brazil’s Central Bank has made it clear that the rollout of Automatic PIX is part of a broader roadmap for the system. Other innovations in the pipeline include:
- Contactless PIX: Tap-to-pay capabilities, likely integrated with NFC technology.
- International PIX: Cross-border transactions using the same infrastructure.
- Open Finance Integration: PIX embedded into broader financial management tools and super apps.
The June 2025 launch of Automatic PIX will be an inflection point—not just for Brazil, but for other countries and regions exploring similar models. As central banks and regulators worldwide look to upgrade payment systems, Brazil’s example is likely to influence thinking in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even Europe.
Why the Global Mobile Ecosystem Should Care
For MEF members—spanning payments aggregators, mobile operators, fintechs, and identity platforms—PIX Automático signals a pivotal shift in the role of mobile in financial services. It demonstrates how mobile devices, smart regulation, and user-centered design can come together to deliver instant, inclusive, and efficient payment experiences.
Whether you’re building apps, processing payments, or managing customer engagement, understanding how PIX works—and how it continues to evolve—offers valuable lessons in innovation, trust, and scalability.
