Mercado Pago promoted, this Wednesday (05), an event to announce some of the company’s new features, highlighting the 118% growth in sponsorships closed in 2026 compared to 2025, the Mercado Pago account security mode, now available to users, and a new “boleto insurance”, in partnership with Prudential, in addition to sharing plans in relation to becoming a bank in Brazil.
Mercado Pago’s account insurance coverage will work in a slightly different way than other insurance in the category, protecting the value of the bills that the user pays using the application, in cases of loss of income, such as layoffs. “For example, you pay your bills on Mercado Pago, such as electricity or water, through our app. In the event of any event, such as loss of work or income, these bills are covered by insurance. The more bills you pay through Mercado Pago, the more your coverage will increase”, explained Ignácio Estivariz, vice-president of Mercado Pago.
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According to the executives, the product will serve formal, informal and freelance workers, because it provides coverage in the event of events that prevent the insured from carrying out paid work, such as accidents and unpaid leave”, added André Chaves, senior vice-president of Mercado Pago in Brazil.
The product will be sold to more than 50 million Mercado Pago users for R$4.99. Asked about the financial viability of the service, considering the financial institution’s large customer base, Chaves replied: “By selling at this price, we will operate the insurance profitably”.
Further details of the new insurance account, such as coverage time, exact coverage amount, which events are covered and other expenses and fees in the event of an accident, were not disclosed.
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And Mercado Pago’s plans in relation to insurance are more ambitious. “We are thinking about launching, in the future, insurance that will cover increasingly larger amounts”, promised Chaves.
Does Mercado Pago want to become a bank in Brazil?
The Central Bank’s requirement for financial institutions that are not officially banks to stop using the terms “Bank”, “Banco” or “Banking” in their names and advertising should force many companies to change their brands, but does not create an obvious obligation for Mercado Pago, since the company does not carry any of these terms in its name. However, this could be the institution’s plan for the future in the country.
“It’s an assessment that we constantly make. We recently applied for a bank license in Mexico and Spain. The idea is to first finish the projects and then go back to evaluating whether this makes sense in Brazil. It’s a current reflection here. In our other two main geographies we are going this way. Here in Brazil we will eventually go back to the drawing board”, said Chaves.
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Shielded Mode
The campaign to publicize Modo Blindado, the application’s new security tool, was strategically scheduled for Carnival 2026, a period in which robberies and thefts of cell phones traditionally skyrocket. Last year, in São Paulo alone, more than 3,600 thefts and device thefts were recorded between February 28th and March 4th.
The tool was designed to protect users’ digital assets in contexts of greater exposure, such as large street events and Carnival. When activated, the feature automatically hides piggy bank balances, investments, crypto assets and account information connected via Open Finance, in addition to allowing limits and blocks for transfers and Pix. The experience was designed to be simple and integrated with the concept of “trusted places”, which allows full use of the account only in environments defined by the user.
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Doubling investment in sponsorships
In addition to paying the prize of R$5.4 million for the current edition, Mercado Pago will sponsor Caldeirão do Mion, the reality show Estrela da Casa, carnivals in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador and Brasileirão 2026.
“The strategy of intensifying communication, bringing a voice to our value propositions. As a result, we are the fastest growing institution in recent years in Brazil”, said Pethra Ferraz, Vice President of Marketing at Mercado Pago for Latin America.
