TL;DR
- Kraken to Merge São Paulo 2026: Kraken was present Merge São Pauloone of Latin America’s leading crypto and digital finance conferenceswhere the company has demonstrated its commitment to Brazilian market through panel appearances, a flagship networking booth and an invitation-only institutional reception attended by 150+ guests.
- Localized presence demonstrates Brazil’s long-term commitment: Kraken ran hard Messaging in Portuguese through the activation of its salon, including a incentive to match retail depositsreinforcing that its entry into Brazil goes beyond brand awareness a real sustainable regional growth strategy built around stablecoins, tokenization and cross-border payments.
Day One: xStocks Moves to Merger Stage
From São Paulo to Wall Street: how tokenized stocks are unlocking US capital markets
Mark Greenberg, vice president and global head of consumer affairs at Kraken, joined EXAME reporter Mariana Maria for a fireside chat on the Merge Stage, one of the conference’s most important platforms. The conversation explored how stocks tokenized as xStocks open access to U.S. capital markets for investors who have historically been excluded due to geography, cost or complexity.
The discussion focused on how blockchain-based stock tokens allow non-U.S. investors to gain exposure to U.S. stocks without the traditional frictions of foreign brokerage accounts or currency conversion hurdles, a topic that strongly resonated with an audience primarily based in Latin America. For Latin American investors facing both market access limitations and domestic regulatory constraints, the promise of tokenized shares as a route to global markets was compelling.
Day 1 Evening: Kraken Institutional Networking Reception at Baleia Rooftop
After the conference concluded, Kraken hosted an invitation-only reception at the Baleia Rooftop. The event attracted over 150 people, a reflection of the Brazilian market’s appetite for deeper engagement with global crypto platforms.
The atmosphere was a natural extension of the day’s conversations, giving institutional contacts, potential partners, and curious newcomers the opportunity to deepen their connections in a more informal setting. Our hosts were bilingual while our messages were in Portuguese; we understand regional nuances and take market growth seriously.
We realize how important localization has been to the overall success of Kraken’s presence in Merge, and how important it will be to our continued success in the region.
Day two: Kraken joins the institutional conversation
The Maturation of Crypto Markets: Payments, Tokenization, and Institutional Scale
Renan Ramos, Senior Institutional Relations Manager at Kraken, joined a high-caliber panel on the BingX stage alongside Bruno Grossi (Head of Digital Assets, Inter), Pedro Barreiro (Banking Director, Nomad) and Adam Levine (Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Partnerships and CEO, Fireblocks), moderated by Regina Pedroso (Executive Director, ABToken).
The panel examined how crypto markets are evolving to meet institutional demands, with stablecoins, tokenization and cross-border payments becoming central themes. Panelists explored how these technologies are opening new pathways to financial inclusion and global market access for users in Latin America, while recognizing that regulatory clarity in Brazil remains one of the key variables determining how quickly this potential can be realized.
The conversation reflected the broader mood of the conference: a maturing and expanding market, with a strong local appetite for the kind of infrastructure and products that Kraken and its peers are building.
Make a good impression at the show
During the two-day conference, Kraken offered a networking circle that became one of the most visible and visited areas of the venue. Intentionally placed at the forefront of the show with prominent branding visible from virtually every angle, the stand allowed us to host and communicate with our regional partners at the heart of the show.
Activation relied on location significantly. Copy was distributed in Portuguese, including a retail deposit incentive (“Trade $200, Receive $10 in BTC”) designed to introduce our products to attendees. The message was simple: A Kraken chegou in Brazil: Kraken has arrived in Brazil.
Judging by the response from attendees, the event went exactly as planned. People approached the team uninvited to ask about Kraken’s plans for the region, what the Brazil launch meant for local users, and how the platform compares to what they’re used to.
The team’s knowledge, relationships and ability to speak the local language made a tangible difference, going beyond just a superficial presence to authentic and productive conversations.
Takeaways
Merge São Paulo reinforced what the Kraken team on the ground already knew: Brazil is an important market, and presenting yourself correctly (in the local language, with relevant products, and with a real commitment to the region) makes all the difference.
Conversations throughout the two days were warm, curious and substantive, with stablecoins and token access to global markets high on everyone’s agenda.
Our presence at Merge São Paulo was more than a marquee moment. It was a statement of intent.
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