The Trump administration has launched a trade inquiry into Brazil’s Pix instant payment network, alleging the state-run platform distorts global competition and disadvantages US firms such as Visa and Mastercard, Coin Edition reported. 

Washington has described Pix as a “state-subsidised monopoly,” arguing it combines regulatory authority with market dominance.

More than 180mn Brazilians — over 80% of the adult population — use Pix for real-time, fee-free transactions ranging from groceries to rent.

Managed by Brazil’s Central Bank, the network processes over $400bn monthly, making it the backbone of the country’s digital economy.

Its scale has drawn complaints from American companies that say it forces foreign participants to absorb higher compliance costs while granting Brazil’s authorities access to sensitive market data.

At a September 3 hearing, Visa, Mastercard, Amazon and Apple urged tighter oversight of state-backed digital systems, calling Pix’s model an “uneven playing field.”

The trade dispute forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader “economic nationalism” agenda, which includes new tariffs and sanctions against Brazil and criticism of what Washington calls “non-transparent digital monopolies.”

Trump, who has aligned himself with pro-cryptocurrency rhetoric, has contrasted Pix’s centralised design with decentralised digital currencies such as Bitcoin, which he promotes as a model for financial freedom.