In Latin America, where traditional finance often leaves millions behind, only 2-3% of the population participates in stock markets. High entry barriers, steep minimum investments, and rigid trading schedules have long kept global equities out of reach for everyday citizens facing economic uncertainty. Recently, Bitso, Latin America’s leading digital financial services platform, announced a major step forward: the launch of commission-free trading of US stocks and ETFs in Mexico, powered by a strategic integration with Alpaca.
Founded in 2014 as a cryptocurrency platform, Bitso has grown into a full-service investment hub serving over 9 million clients across the region.
While crypto remains central, the company is broadening its offerings to support diversified wealth-building.
Alex Mehrdad, General Manager of Retail at Bitso, explained the vision: the goal is to equip users with multiple tools for long-term financial growth, meeting them wherever they are on their investment journey.
By introducing US equities, Bitso is dismantling perceptions that stock trading is reserved for the wealthy or those with flexible schedules.
The partnership with Alpaca—a US-based, self-clearing broker-dealer renowned for its brokerage infrastructure APIs—makes this possible.
Using Alpaca’s Broker API, Bitso embedded seamless access to over 5,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs directly into its mobile app.
Users in Mexico can now trade commission-free, with fractional shares available from as little as $1 USD (approximately 18 Mexican pesos).
This low barrier removes the intimidation factor that often discourages first-time investors.
Additional features further enhance accessibility.
The platform supports 24/5 trading, allowing participants to buy and sell outside standard market hours—a critical advantage in a region where many balance multiple jobs or irregular schedules.
Mehrdad highlighted how these tools transform investing from an occasional luxury into a practical daily habit:
“These features democratize access. They empower users to participate gradually, manage risk more effectively, and integrate investing into their daily financial lives.”
The collaboration has proven smooth and efficient.
Mehrdad praised Alpaca’s professional SaaS-like approach, which enabled a timely rollout.
Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, expressed enthusiasm:
“With our shared goal of making investing more accessible, we look forward to deepening our collaboration.”
This initiative addresses structural challenges head-on.
Previously, Mexican investors often needed foreign brokerage accounts, currency conversions, and large capital sums.
Now, everything happens within Bitso’s familiar ecosystem, using pesos and starting with minimal amounts.
The result is greater financial inclusion, helping users hedge against local volatility through diversified global exposure.
Looking ahead to the foreseeable future, Bitso and Alpaca plan to expand the offering.
Future enhancements include options trading and tokenized US equities, unlocking even more sophisticated strategies for Latin American portfolios.
The focus remains on delivering an exceptional user experience while sustainably growing adoption.
By lowering barriers and expanding choices, Bitso is not only enabling individual investors in Mexico but also contributing to a more inclusive financial future across Latin America. For the region’s 9 million Bitso users—and millions more—this marks a tangible shift toward various wealth-building opportunities.