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Valuation : $ 2.1bn Latest funding round : $ 200mn

Founded in 2013 , Mercado Bitcoin is now Brazil ’ s biggest cryptocurrency exchange and has just added the Shiba Inu to its repertoire of digital assets to trade . Backed by Softbank in a massive funding round in June 2021 , the South America fintech is owned by 2TM and is the largest crypto exchange in the subcontinent . The parent company also raised $ 50.3mn in November 2021 following the mega SoftBank-led investment round .

Mercado Bitcoin also recently reached an agreement with Brazilian energy trader Comerc to release two renewable energy tokens . The first token functions as a cashback reward for Comerc customers who generate renewable energy through the company ’ s distributed generation system , Sou Vagalume . The second token is still being developed but is backed by the International REC Standard , a certificate that documents electricity consumption from renewable energy sources . fintechmagazine . com 145