Brazil’s Pix instant payments platform has introduced a recurring payments feature known as Pix Automático. This new functionality allows users to authorize periodic debits automatically, eliminating the need for authentication with each transaction.
The central bank anticipates that this feature will benefit a variety of sectors, including educational institutions, gyms, condominiums, social clubs, health plans, streaming services, news outlets, subscription clubs, and financial services firms.
Launched in late 2020, Pix has quickly gained traction, with 170 million users—representing 91% of the adult population in Brazil. Notably, about 60 million Brazilians do not have credit cards, indicating a significant market opportunity for Pix Automático. According to vendor Ebanx, this feature could unlock $30 billion in online recurring payments within two years.
Companies like Ebanx have already integrated the recurring payments feature, with global streaming platforms and SaaS companies being among the first adopters. PPRO and digital bank Nubank are also swiftly rolling out their own integrations.
In 2024, Pix experienced a 52% increase in transaction volume, according to central bank data. By the last quarter of the year, it accounted for nearly half of all non-cash payment transactions in Brazil.