Peanut Is Coming to Portugal
Pay with MB WAY, send money to anyone in Portugal, and get better rates — no Cartao de Cidadao required.
Portugal has embraced mobile payments faster than almost any other European country. MB WAY — built on the country's trusted Multibanco network — has become the go-to way to split bills, pay at shops, and check out online, with over 5 million users and a 45% share of e-commerce transactions. But MB WAY requires a Portuguese bank account linked to the Multibanco system, which means foreigners and recent arrivals are locked out.
Peanut will change that. When local spending launches in Portugal, you will be able to pay with MB WAY and send money to anyone in the country — without needing a Cartao de Cidadao, a NIF, or a Portuguese bank account. Your balance will stay in digital dollars until the moment you pay, converting to euros at the real market rate.
Portugal is also a critical corridor for Brazil. With approximately 485,000 Brazilian residents and a shared language, the Portugal-to-Brazil connection is one of the strongest in Europe. Peanut already lets you pay with Pix in Brazil — and soon, it will let you pay locally in Portugal too.
How It Will Work
- 1
Deposit funds
Add money to your Peanut balance via SEPA bank transfer (free, 90% arrive in under 20 minutes) or send digital dollars from any exchange.
- 2
Your balance stays in digital dollars
Your funds will be held in digital dollars until you are ready to spend. Convert to euros only when you pay.
- 3
Pay with MB WAY
When Peanut launches local spending in Portugal, you will scan QR codes at merchants, pay online, and send instant transfers through MB WAY. Your digital dollars will convert to euros at the moment of payment.
- 4
Send money to anyone
Share a Peanut Link with anyone in Portugal or Brazil. They claim the funds and withdraw to their bank account — no Peanut account required on their end.
What Payment Methods Are Coming
MB WAY
MB WAY is Portugal's leading mobile payment system, built on SIBS's Multibanco infrastructure that connects 27 banks and over 12,000 ATMs nationwide. MB WAY supports QR code payments at merchants, instant P2P transfers, and online checkout — all from your phone. With over 5 million users, it has become the standard way to pay in Portugal.
When Peanut integrates MB WAY, you will be able to scan QR codes at supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and retail shops across Portugal. You will also pay online where MB WAY is accepted — just enter your phone number and confirm in the app. The merchant will see a normal MB WAY payment. No Cartao de Cidadao, no NIF, no Portuguese bank account needed on your end.
MB WAY is accepted at major retailers including Continente, Pingo Doce, and Lidl, as well as a wide network of restaurants, shops, and online stores. Coverage continues to expand as MB WAY grows beyond its already strong base.
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What to Expect
Portugal is part of the eurozone, so your Peanut balance will convert from digital dollars to euros when you spend. SEPA deposits are free and 90% arrive in under 20 minutes, making it easy to fund your account from any European bank.
Peanut will convert your digital dollars to euros at the real market rate. The rate locks at the moment of payment — no slippage, no hidden markups. For visitors from outside the eurozone, this means avoiding card company foreign transaction fees and exchange rate markups that typically add 1-3% on top.
For the Portugal-Brazil corridor, traditional remittance services charge significant fees. Brazilian residents in Portugal sent a record 414 million euros back to Brazil in 2024 — and many of those transfers lost value to fees and unfavorable rates. Peanut will offer a better way.
Who Will Use Peanut in Portugal
Brazilian Community in Portugal
With approximately 485,000 registered Brazilian residents — about 31% of all foreign residents in Portugal — the Brazilian diaspora is a major part of Portuguese life. If you are Brazilian living in Portugal, Peanut connects both sides of your life. Pay locally in Portugal with MB WAY, and send money home to Brazil where recipients can withdraw via Pix. One app for both countries, with the shared language making everything feel natural.
Digital Nomads
Lisbon and Porto have become two of Europe's top digital nomad destinations, with a thriving tech scene, affordable cost of living, and excellent weather. Portugal's D7 visa and digital nomad visa make long-term stays straightforward — but getting a Portuguese bank account and MB WAY access takes time. Peanut will give you MB WAY access with just your passport, from day one.
Tourists
Portugal draws millions of visitors every year to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and Madeira. Paying with a foreign card means markups on every transaction. Peanut will let you pay with MB WAY at the real rate — scan QR codes at shops and restaurants, pay online, and avoid the fees your card would charge.
Get Notified
Peanut is not yet live for local spending in Portugal, but you can already deposit and withdraw via SEPA today — free, with most transfers arriving in under 20 minutes. When MB WAY integration launches, you will be among the first to pay like a local.
Sign up now to get notified when Peanut launches local spending in Portugal. Verification takes under two minutes with your passport or national ID — no Cartao de Cidadao required.
