The Cainvest Group, a dominant banking institution in the Cayman Islands, has strategically transformed itself into a major cryptocurrency market player.CEO Charles Aboulafia has steered the company from traditional banking services to becoming Brazils primary source of cryptocurrency liquidity.Cainvests journey began in 2010 when it acquired SulAmerica International Bank, followed by purchasing Intertrusts banking arm from Blackstone in 2015.These acquisitions positioned Cainvest to control 60% of banks based in the Cayman Islands, serving major financial institutions like Ita Unibanco, Socit Gnrale, and Mizuho.The companys crypto pivot started in 2017 when it recognized blockchains revolutionary potential for financial services.
By 2018, Cainvest began providing liquidity to Brazilian cryptocurrency exchanges through a proprietary trading system.Cayman Islands Banking Giant Pivots to Crypto, Becomes Brazils Key Liquidity Provider.
(Photo Internet reproduction)This infrastructure now connects to over 20 Latin American crypto exchanges.
Cainvest estimates it provides 40% of the liquidity for Brazils institutional cryptocurrency market.Cainvests Crypto Spin-Off and Launch of BRL1 StablecoinThe operation grew so significantly that the company executed a spin-off to separate its crypto division from traditional banking operations.
In March 2025, Cainvest partnered with Mercado Bitcoin, Bitso, and Foxbit to launch BRL1, a stablecoin pegged to the Brazilian real.This digital asset aims to eliminate barriers between national and international exchanges while making the Brazilian market more liquid and attractive.BRL1 operates on the Polygon blockchain and is fully backed by Brazilian reais and government bonds.
The consortium expects the stablecoins volume to exceed R$50 million in 2025, potentially growing to R$100 million within its first year.Cainvest also launched an investment product offering 85% capital protection against Bitcoin depreciation while allowing investors to capture up to 40% of the assets appreciation.The global stablecoin market currently totals $246 billion and is projected to reach $2.8 trillion by 2028.
Aboulafia sees tokenization as the future, comparing banks that ignore this trend to Blockbuster facing Netflix.
We are not just serving a revolution, he states.
We are creating one.