Mercado Libre shuts down Mercado Coin, ending its loyalty-driven crypto experiment

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Mercado Libre shuts down Mercado Coin, ending its loyalty-driven crypto experiment Starting April 17, users will no longer be able to buy, sell or earn cashback in Mercado Coin, but can sell, spend, or have the token converted to local currency. By Francisco Rodrigues | Edited by Sheldon Reback Mar 31, 2026, 2:49 p.m. Make preferred on (Rupixen/Unsplash) What to know : E-commerce giant Mercado Libre is shutting down its homegrown cryptocurrency, Mercado Coin, nearly four years after introducing it to reward customer engagement. Starting April 17, users will no longer be able to buy, sell or earn cashback in Mercado Coin, but can sell their tokens, spend them as purchase credits or have them converted to local currency. The exit reflects a broader trend of large tech firms reconsidering branded digital assets, though Mercado Libre continues to support other crypto features like stablecoin transfers and holds over $38 million in bitcoin on its balance sheet. In this article USDT USDT $ 0.9991 ◢ 0.02 % E-commerce giant Mercado Libre (MELI) is pulling the plug on its homegrown cryptocurrency, Mercado Coin, nearly four years after introducing it to boost customer engagement across its platform. The e-commerce giant announced the decision through a notification and email from Mercado Pago, its digital wallet, which will handle the phase-out. Starting April 17, users won’t be able to buy, sell or earn cashback in Mercado Coin, effectively ending its utility inside the ecosystem. Launched in August 2022 in Brazil before expanding to other markets, Mercado Coin was pitched as a way to reward users for purchases on the platform. Participating products offered token incentives that could be used for future purchases or cashed out. The token, built on Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard, was accessible via the Mercado Pago app and operated in partnership with crypto exchange Ripio. Now, users holding Mercado Coin have a few options. They can sell their tokens through the app, spend them as purchase credits on Mercado Libre or wait for an automatic conversion into their local fiat currency, which will be deposited into their accounts. Whilel the company didn’t explain the decision in its customer notice, the exit comes as large tech firms rethink their approach to branded digital assets. Mercado Libre continues to support crypto features such as stablecoin transfers and token trading via Mercado Pago, and holds more than $38 million worth of bitcoin BTC $ 67,035.93 on its balance sheet. The company also has its own dollar-backed stablecoin . Stablecoins Brazil More For You The Definitive Stablecoin Landscape Series: North America By CoinDesk Research Mar 26, 2026 Commissioned by Ripple As stablecoins evolve into core financial infrastructure, North America leads. This report maps the regulation, market shifts, and players driving adoption. Why it matters : Stablecoins are entering their third phase of evolution - the institutionalization era - becoming increasingly embedded into core financial infrastructure. As institutions prioritize transparency and compliance, regulated issuers like USDC, RLUSD, and PYUSD are steadily gaining share with RLUSD surpassing $1B in market cap within its first year. North America, leading in regulatory frameworks and institutional distribution, is at the center of it all. View Full Report More For You Forex startup OpenFX raises $94 million to expand stablecoin-powered cross-border payments By Francisco Rodrigues , AI Boost | Edited by Sheldon Reback 3 hours ago The company acts as a bridge between traditional banking and digital assets, enabling faster and cheaper foreign-exchange conversions for businesses moving large sums of money. What to know : OpenFX raised $94 million to expand the use of stablecoins in global payments and cross-border money transfers. The company acts as a bridge between traditional banking and digital assets, enabling faster and cheaper foreign-exchange conversions for businesses moving large sums of money. OpenFX, founded in 2024, now handles over $45... 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