Mercado Coin Shutdown: What Happened and Alternatives
Mercado Libre is shutting down Mercado Coin, its ERC-20 loyalty token launched in 2022 for cashback on Brazil purchases. Buy/sell/earn ends April 17, 2026. Remaining balances auto-convert to BRL in Mercado Pago wallets—no action needed for recovery.
Status
Shutting Down
Estimated timeline
17 April 2026
Category
Crypto Loyalty Token
What is happening?
Mercado Libre, Latin America's largest e-commerce platform, announced the discontinuation of Mercado Coin (MCOIN), an ERC-20 token launched in August 2022 primarily in Brazil. Users earned it as cashback on Mercado Libre purchases via the Mercado Pago wallet and could spend or redeem it within the ecosystem. No secondary market developed, limiting it to internal use.
Closure Impact
Affecting millions of Mercado Pago users (primarily in Brazil), features to buy, sell, or earn MCOIN end April 17, 2026. Balances can be sold or spent beforehand or auto-converted to Brazilian reais deposited into wallets. No value loss is expected due to fiat conversion at current rates. This mirrors Nubank's 2024 Nucoin pivot from trading to rewards.
What Users Should Do
Check the Mercado Pago app or email for notifications. Sell or spend MCOIN before April 17 if desired; otherwise, auto-conversion handles it safely. Mercado Libre continues crypto services like Meli Dolar (MUSD) stablecoin, trading, and holds $38M+ in Bitcoin.
Best alternatives
Argentine crypto exchange with cashback rewards, wallet, and fiat ramps for LatAm users.
Mercado Libre's own USD stablecoin for payments and cashback in Meli+ program.
Global exchange with loyalty programs, cashback via cards, and BRL support.
Crypto platform offering trading, staking rewards, and mystery box promotions.
Exchange with earn products, cashback on purchases, and LatAm fiat gateways.
Rewards hub with copy trading, launchpools, and VIP cashback tiers.
Startup tokens, loyalty points, and fiat-to-crypto for emerging markets.
High-APY savings, airdrops, and cashback for active traders.
Mexico/Brazil-focused exchange with rewards and stablecoin payments.
Argentine app with crypto cashback, debit cards, and NFT perks.