Editor's note: this article is independent reporting. Neither The Portugal Post nor its contributors received payment or any form of compensation from MB | Mercado Bitcoin for its publication.
Disclaimer: this article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. The figures, returns and product details described here rely on information provided by the company. Returns, fees and terms can change, and tokenised fixed-income products carry risks, including potential loss of capital. Readers should independently verify the current terms on the provider's official channels, check the regulatory status of the product in Portugal, and consult a qualified, independent financial adviser before making any investment decision.
A Portuguese-based startup operation is trying to rewire how households in the country think about saving. MB | Mercado Bitcoin, the digital-asset investment platform that planted its European flag in Portugal in 2022, has strengthened its investment offering with a product it bills as a first for the local market: Aforro Digital. Built around the tokenisation of real assets, it combines fixed income with blockchain technology and offers an annual return of up to 22%.
According to the exchange, the return on Aforro Digital is "real, secure, 100% online and accessible from 50 euros".
As explained by the company's CEO and co-founder, Reinaldo Rabelo, "it is an investment product that allows you to invest capital in fixed income assets through a digital structure." In practice, "the investor acquires tokens that represent rights over real assets, such as debt instruments or receivables."
Therefore, it is "a digital asset that is not tied to cryptocurrencies. That is, there is no exposure to the volatility of assets like Bitcoin, with the return based on the performance of the underlying concrete assets."
With this investment product, it is possible to access a global market and obtain different returns, depending on the currency chosen for the investment. Specifically, returns can reach 5% per year in euros, 9% in the case of dollars, and 22% if the currency chosen for the investment is the Brazilian real. In any case, there is the option to automatically reinvest the interest.
An investment option for those seeking fixed returns
Indeed, Aforro Digital is inspired by the traditional savings instruments that the Portuguese already know, such as Certificados de Aforro and Treasury Bonds, the bedrock of conservative household saving in Portugal.
Similarly, as explained by the company's representative, Aforro Digital is "an alternative equally geared towards capital preservation and income generation, but with a more modern structure and superior return potential, reflecting the nature of the underlying assets and the efficiency of the digital model."
Indeed, unlike these traditional savings instruments, whose average annual return currently hovers around 2%, Aforro Digital allows for an annual return of up to 22%. In terms of subscription and top-ups, it is available from just 50 euros, simply by opening an account with the brokerage firm.
On the other hand, "from a security standpoint, the model is based on the selection and structuring of real assets, with predictable cash flows." The use of blockchain technology contributes to greater transparency, traceability, and efficiency in recording transactions.
Specifically, "the process begins with the origination of an asset, such as a loan or debt instrument, which is then structured and converted into tokens. These tokens are registered on the blockchain and made available on the MB platform. By acquiring these tokens, the investor owns a portion of the asset and benefits from the associated financial flows."
Tokenisation of real assets: an innovation in Portugal
Regarding high profitability, Reinaldo Rabelo explains that "the use of blockchain technology allows for greater operational efficiency. By reducing the need for intermediaries and simplifying processes, the model becomes more agile and transparent." At the same time, "this efficiency is not only technological, it also translates into an optimisation of the cost structure throughout the investment chain."
Therefore, this product "represents a relevant innovation in the Portuguese market, not only for its technological component, but above all for the democratisation of access to investment opportunities traditionally reserved for institutional investors." To conclude, he states that "Aforro Digital represents a natural evolution of fixed-income products."
With more than a decade of activity in the digital-asset sector, MB | Mercado Bitcoin arrived in Portugal in 2022 and has been building its local team into a startup-style operation positioned at the intersection of the traditional financial system and the new digital economy. For the Portuguese fintech scene, Aforro Digital is one of the more visible signals that home-grown tokenisation is moving from pitch deck to retail product.
Reminder: nothing in this article should be read as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any product. Do your own research and seek independent professional advice before investing.
