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Mercado Pago Switches On Pix Payments in Brazil for Argentine Travelers

The rollout ties Argentine peso balances to Brazil’s Pix for instant in‑app conversion.

Overview

  • Argentine users can now pay Brazilian merchants in reais through Pix directly from their Mercado Pago peso balances with immediate debit.
  • Shoppers may scan a QR or enter a seller’s chave Pix, the app displays the amount in reais alongside its peso equivalent, and no advance travel setup is required.
  • In Uruguay, more than 50,000 merchants accept Mercado Pago QR, with charges routed to cards saved in the app and processed like debit or credit transactions.
  • Cross‑border demand is strong, with about 3 million Argentine trips to Brazil from January to October and a planned 31.6% increase in flight frequencies for the season.
  • Uruguay offers a 100% VAT refund on hotels and dining for foreign‑issued cards, while Prex and Cocos provide additional cashless payment alternatives for travelers.