Mercado Libre to Shut Mercado Coin on April 17, Ending User Reward Token

Mercado Libre has told users to sell or spend remaining Mercado Coin balances before the token is discontinued, while the company keeps other crypto services in place.

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Summary

Mercado Libre will discontinue Mercado Coin on April 17, ending its user reward token program after roughly four years. The company has notified users that they must sell or spend their remaining Mercado Coin balances through Mercado Pago before the shutdown. Existing reporting states the token was launched in Brazil in 2022 as an ERC-20 asset managed through Mercado Pago with support from Ripio. After the closure, users will no longer be able to buy or sell Mercado Coin or receive cashback rewards tied to spending, while Mercado Libre says other crypto-related services will remain available, including stablecoin transfers and crypto trading. The company also continues to hold more than $38 million in Bitcoin on its balance sheet.

Terms & Concepts
  • ERC-20: A widely used token standard on Ethereum that defines how fungible tokens are issued and transferred across compatible wallets and applications.
  • Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, usually by being pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar.
  • Bitcoin: The largest cryptocurrency by market value, often held by companies as a digital asset on their balance sheets.