LATAM crypto news: Brazil tokenization soars as cryptojacking spreads

The top three crypto stories this week in LATAM are Brazil's tokenisation boom, a spike in cryptojacking attacks throughout Latin America, and Bolivia's efforts to establish itself as a regional blockchain hub.

These stories highlight the swift growth of digital assets and the increasing cybersecurity threats that come with it.

Brazil’s RWA tokenisation market reaches new heights in 2026

According to data from RWA Monitor, Brazil's real-world asset tokenisation market has continued to grow quickly in 2026.

Total issuance volumes were reported at BRL 1.50 billion in January 2026, up from just BRL 122 million a year earlier—an increase of more than 1,130%.

Global statistics for the larger RWA ecosystem also demonstrate consistent growth; in early 2026, it is projected that the total value of tokenised assets on blockchains will range from USD 19 billion to USD 36 billion.

Deeper structural changes brought about by more established platforms, institutional involvement, and clearer regulations are reflected in the expansion.

According to industry insiders, tokenisation is evolving from an experimental component to a fundamental component of Brazil's financial infrastructure, drawing in more capital and a wider range of asset classes when daily fundraising crosses important benchmarks.

Cryptojacking surge hits thousands of LATAM websites

Without the owners' knowledge, a group of hackers has unlawfully converted thousands of websites into crypto mining machines.

According to cybersecurity firm ESET, data gathered throughout 2025 shows that over 3,500 sites in Latin America were attacked in July alone last year.

The advertising coincides with Brazil's Central Bank's increased surveillance of its cryptocurrency sector.

By inserting hidden code into webpages, the scam operates.

Users' computers or phones discreetly start mining cryptocurrency for fraudsters when they visit an infected page.

Devices slow down, overheat, use more electricity, and degrade more quickly; batteries on cell phones may even enlarge.

Cryptojacking is a technique that drains unwary visitors' processing capacity, much like a digital parasite.

ESET found two primary categories of affected websites: those that were already deemed dangerous, like pirate streaming, illicit downloads, and anime portals, and those that were legitimate but were compromised because of simple security flaws.

The victims, which were frequently made public by out-of-date systems, weak passwords, or susceptible plugins, included small businesses, schools, and local news organisations.

Daniel Barbosa, a security researcher at ESET Brazil, claims that in order to increase revenues, hackers target hundreds of small domains and give priority to scalability over individual traffic.

Although they do not address technical issues like cryptojacking, Brazil's new crypto legislation, such as Central Bank Resolutions 519, 520, and 521 approved in November 2025, concentrate on exchanges, anti-money laundering measures, and transparency for stablecoins.

Slower devices and higher electricity costs are the effects on consumers; reputational harm and the possibility of more widespread hacks are the effects on site owners.

Santa Cruz to host Bolivia Blockchain Week 2026

In a statement provided to Cointelegraph en Español, organisers announced that the city of Santa Cruz is getting ready to hold the second edition of Bolivia Blockchain Week at the Hotel Marriott on February 27–28.

The two-day event, which is being organised by LATAM Blockchain Events, intends to establish itself as the premier hub for digital assets and trading in Bolivia.

With panels addressing cryptocurrencies, trading, blockchain infrastructure, legislation, and financial education, more than 4,000 people are anticipated to attend, along with more than 50 foreign speakers. BitGo, Tether, KuCoin, Banexcoin, and Binance are some of the industry sponsors.

The 2026 edition, according to organisers, coincides with Bolivia's historic crypto boom.

Between the first half of 2024 and the same period in 2025, transactions reportedly increased by more than 530%, from $46.5 million to $294 million.

As companies and individuals look for alternatives in the face of dollar shortages, the adoption of Bitcoin and Tether has increased.

Bolivia has become one of the Latin American adoption markets with the quickest rate of growth, when a crypto ban was lifted in the middle of 2024.

Proponents of incorporating blockchain technology and digital assets into the financial system, such as President Rodrigo Paz and Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza, have framed the nation as a real-time testing ground for cryptocurrency acceptance.