The new PIX security rules will come into force in February 2026, aiming to enhance protection for users and companies against electronic fraud. The main advancement lies in the strengthening of the Special Refund Mechanism (MED), which will require financial institutions to act more effectively in tracking and blocking misappropriated funds.

In practice, the updated MED allows amounts transferred to accounts used by fraudsters to be identified and blocked more quickly, even when there are attempts to disperse the funds across multiple accounts. In addition, the ability to register fraud alerts directly through banking applications reduces the time between the occurrence of the scam and the adoption of corrective measures.

For companies that use PIX as a recurring payment and collection method, these changes represent a significant improvement, but they also require operational adjustments, system integration, and internal training.

Risks and implications for companies

Despite the regulatory reinforcement, certain risks remain and deserve attention:

• Financial and reputational impacts if misappropriated amounts are not promptly challenged;
• Limitations on the effectiveness of the MED when there are no available funds in the accounts through which the money circulated;
• Higher requirements for maturity in internal processes related to monitoring, dispute handling, and communication with financial institutions;
• The need to align security practices with applicable legislation and market best practices.

PIX remains an efficient payment method, but it requires active management of operational and fraud risks.

Strategic solutions and recommendations

To mitigate risks and comply with the new rules, companies should consider:

• Ensuring that payment and reconciliation systems are prepared to register, monitor, and respond quickly to fraud alerts, including integration with banking notifications;
• Training finance, compliance, and internal control teams on the new MED procedures, dispute deadlines, and tracking possibilities;
• Establishing clear incident response workflows, with defined responsibilities and agile internal communication;
• Educating commercial teams and clients about PIX-related fraud risks and the importance of reporting incidents immediately upon identifying suspicious transactions.

The effectiveness of the MED depends less on the regulation itself and more on the speed and organization of the company’s response.

PIX is already part of your company’s daily operations. Have you reviewed whether your processes are ready for these new rules? Follow PDK for access to other practical content on fraud prevention and digital risk management.