Brazil’s instant payment system Pix surpasses 170 million users
The number of registered Pix access aliases – known as keys – in Brazil surpassed the 1 billion mark in September, as per data from the Central Bank. In total, the country’s most popular instant payment method had 1.008 billion registered keys on September 30, up from 998 million in August. This total represents a surge of some 80 million keys since the end of 2025, when there were 920 million.…
In Brazil, the instant payment system known as Pix has reached a milestone with more than 170 million users, according to data released by the Central Bank. The number of registered Pix access aliases, or keys, surpassed the 1 billion mark in September, with a total of 1.008 billion keys registered on September 30. This represents an increase of approximately 80 million keys since the end of 2025, when there were 920 million keys.
However, it is important to note that the number of keys does not directly correlate to the number of users. A single person can register multiple keys, which means Pix has around 170 million customers, including both individuals and businesses. On average, each customer has nearly six keys.
Of the total registered keys, 956.7 million are associated with individuals, and 51.2 million are linked to businesses. Over half of the registrations are random keys, which allow users to receive transfers without sharing personal information such as their taxpayer ID (CPF), phone number, or email address. The random keys account for 526.8 million registrations (52.3%), followed by cell phone numbers at 166.3 million (16.5%), CPT codes at 153.9 million (15.4%), and email addresses at 144.6 million (14.3%).
Pix keys function as aliases linked to a bank account, facilitating easier money transfers. Individuals can register up to five keys per account, while businesses can register up to 20. Each key is linked to only one account at a time, and registration is not mandatory. Users can still perform transfers using the recipient's bank details or other features like QR codes.
The increase in the number of keys aligns with the growing use of Pix for everyday transfers and payments. In September, there were 7.1 billion transactions processed, totaling approximately BRL 3.2 trillion. The Central Bank handles and settles transfers between different financial institutions in real time. Internal settlements between customers of the same institution bypass the Central Bank's system.
To enhance security, users can create random keys to receive funds without directly disclosing personal information. However, it is crucial for users to verify the recipient's identity before confirming a transfer.
Written by urgent.news from Agencia Brasil's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
