The Financial Espresso: A5X directors; Mercado Pago; Updates on Rural; BTG; Real estate credit in Argentina; Pinbank

Research evidence excerpt

The Financial Espresso: A5X directors; Mercado Pago; Updates on Rural; BTG; Real estate credit in Argentina; Pinbank

within 3 months of using the platform. In addition,

36% of users also invest through Mercado Pago’s “Cofrinhos” product. The company

said the solution is particularly popular among service providers and is being used as

an entry point to broader financial services, including digital accounts, credit,

financial management tools, and investments for small businesses. Our take: We

see the company evolving in its engagement strategy as it expands its relationship

with MSMEs, a segment where, according to the article, M. Pago already serves more

than 9mn entrepreneurs in Brazil. We also note the company expanding its credit

offering. Although the credit business remains profitable, the expansion is also

pressuring margins due to higher loan loss provisions.See here for our latest update.

Government allocates R$ 10 billion to finance agricultural machinery

According to Globo Rural, the Brazilian government has allocated up to R$10 billion

from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT) in

2026 to create the 'Move Agricultura' financing line, which will support the purchase

of innovative agricultural machinery and equipment developed with domestic

technology. The funds will be managed by Finep and distributed through accredited

financial institutions, and for the first time both individual and corporate rural

producers will be eligible to access the credit. The financing will be classified as

rural credit, carry an announced interest rate of 9.2%, and is intended to help

modernize agricultural production while offsetting the reduction in resources

available through Moderfrota, Brazil’s main subsidized agricultural machinery