Brazil's Congress Passes Bill 4212/25 to Limit State Control Over CBDC Drex

According to Bitcoin.com News, Brazil's Congress passed Bill 4212/25 in the Economic Development Committee, establishing guardrails to restrict the government's use of the planned central bank digital currency (CBDC) drex. The bill, introduced by Deputy Bia Kicis and modified by rapporteur Lafayette de Andrada, mandates that the digital currency cannot replace physical cash, cannot be forced as legal tender, and cannot be used for surveillance or political control.

The legislation also requires that digital currency adoption must not cause financial exclusion, ensuring alternatives remain accessible to populations without digital infrastructure. These protections address concerns that a full CBDC deployment could disadvantage less tech-savvy citizens who rely on cash.