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Former Uber and PicPay exec Fábio Tonetto Plein is the new country manager of Coinbase in Brazil

His first task is the negotiation for the acquisition of 2TM group, the owner of Mercado Bitcoin.

The logo for Coinbase Global Inc, the biggest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, is displayed on the Nasdaq MarketSite
The logo for Coinbase Global Inc, the biggest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, is displayed on the Nasdaq MarketSite jumbotron and others at Times Square in New York, U.S., April 14, 2021. Photo: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
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Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced Fábio Tonetto Plein, former vice president of PicPay Store (the marketplace of the largest digital wallet in LatAm, PicPay) and former director of Uber Eats (an operation that Uber closed this year in Brazil) as its new country manager in the country.

According to the company, he joined Marcello Azambuja, engineering director and, until then, who was in charge of the start of Coinbase operations in Brazil. Since November of last year, Azambuja has started hiring engineers, designers, and payments directors.

READ ALSO: Coinbase-backed Latin American unicorn Bitso announces a new country manager in Brazil

Plein is on a mission to take Coinbase to the crypto leadership in Latin America. For this, one of his first tasks is the negotiation for the acquisition of 2TM group, the owner of Mercado Bitcoin, the leading crypto exchange in the country. Also, in March, according to information from Bloomberg, the group hired JP Morgan to advise it on the operation.

Two months earlier, Mercado Libre acquired a stake in 2TM. However, neither the stake size nor the value of the transaction was revealed at the time.

READ ALSO: Coinbase, Circle, and other 13 companies crypto firms launch coalition to promote market integrity

On his LinkedIn page, Plein said that he is “thrilled about the adventure that we will have ahead together with the amazing Coinbase team to create the future of web3, crypto, and blockchain.”

“Crypto is still in its early days, there is a lot to be built and we are here to be a key player to increase economic freedom for millions in Brazil in the coming years,” added Coinbase’s new county manager.

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