Binance has appointed Thiago Sarandy as General Manager for Brazil, strengthening its leadership as the country’s crypto regulations take shape.
Key Takeaways
- Binance promotes Thiago Sarandy to lead its Brazil operations during a key regulatory phase.
- Brazil ranks as the fifth largest crypto market globally, with over 25 million users.
- Sarandy played a direct role in shaping Brazil’s crypto regulations.
- Latin America crypto adoption surged by 63 percent, signaling strong growth potential.
What Happened?
Binance announced the appointment of Thiago Sarandy as General Manager for Brazil on April 16, highlighting the company’s focus on expanding in one of the fastest growing crypto markets. Sarandy, who joined Binance in 2022, previously led regulatory and legal affairs for Brazil and El Salvador.
His promotion comes at a time when Brazil is actively developing its regulatory framework for digital assets, making his experience especially valuable.
JUST IN: @binance has appointed Thiago Sarandy as General Manager for Brazil.
— The Crypto Times (@CryptoTimes_io) April 16, 2026
Sarandy played a key role in Brazil’s first crypto regulatory framework discussions and previously led Binance’s regulatory and legal strategy across Brazil and El Salvador.
He brings over a decade of… pic.twitter.com/cVI7TnGqhS
Binance Strengthens Leadership in a Key Market
Binance’s decision to elevate Sarandy reflects a strategic push to solidify its position in Brazil, which has emerged as one of the most important crypto markets globally. The country already ranks as the fifth largest market worldwide and the largest in Latin America.
Sarandy’s new role places him at the center of Binance’s operations in a region that is seeing rapid adoption from both retail and institutional users. His direct involvement in regulatory discussions gives the company an advantage as rules continue to evolve.
In an official statement, Sarandy said:
Regulatory Expertise at the Core
Sarandy brings over a decade of experience in traditional finance, having worked as Partner and Chief Legal Officer at Genial Investments and Warren Investments before joining Binance. He also holds academic credentials in law and capital markets, along with a blockchain specialization from MIT.
At Binance, he has spent the past four years working closely with regulators, legislators, and industry groups. His contributions helped shape Brazil’s first virtual asset regulatory framework, positioning him as a key figure in the country’s crypto policy landscape.
This background is especially important as Binance shifts toward a more compliance focused strategy globally, aiming to align closely with local regulations in major markets.
Brazil’s Growing Crypto Ecosystem
Brazil has already demonstrated strong grassroots crypto adoption, with millions of users entering the market even before formal regulations were introduced. The country’s infrastructure also supports real world crypto use cases.
Binance has played a major role in this growth by launching localized services, including:
- Integration with Brazil’s Pix payment system, enabling real time crypto-to-fiat transactions.
- Relaunch of the Binance Mastercard card, allowing users to spend crypto directly.
- Expansion of payment solutions through Binance Pay.
According to the CoinLaw Crypto Adoption Report, Latin America saw a 63 percent increase in crypto adoption last year, second only to the Asia Pacific region. This growth reflects rising demand across both individual users and institutions.
Strategic Timing for Expansion
The timing of Sarandy’s appointment signals Binance’s long term commitment to Brazil. As regulatory clarity improves, the company is positioning itself to capture the next wave of adoption.
Guilherme Nazar, Head of Latin America at Binance, said:
With over 300 million global users and $34 trillion in trading volume recorded in 2025, Binance continues to expand its footprint while increasing investments in security, compliance, and education.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, this is exactly the kind of move that shows Binance is playing the long game. Instead of chasing short term growth, the company is putting someone with deep regulatory roots in charge of one of its most important markets.
I found this especially important because Brazil is not just growing fast, it is becoming a blueprint for how crypto regulation can work in emerging economies. If Sarandy can balance innovation with compliance, Binance could strengthen its dominance not just in Brazil but across Latin America.
