Zesty, a regulated fintech firm overseen by Chile’s Comisión para el Mercado Financiero (CMF), has rolled out cryptocurrency trading capabilities, marking a significant expansion for investors in the country. This new feature integrates digital assets with access to US and domestic Chilean markets, all available through one unified mobile application. The initiative relies on infrastructure from Alpaca, a provider of brokerage technology APIs that supports trading in stocks, options, ETFs, fixed income, and now cryptocurrencies.
Latin America has witnessed steady growth in cryptocurrency adoption.
Transaction volumes across the region approached $1.5 trillion between July 2022 and June 2025, with Chile contributing approximately $23.8 billion in the most recent 12-month period, positioning it as the seventh-largest crypto market in Latin America.
Economic factors such as inflation pressures, currency fluctuations, and capital controls have driven many individuals to view digital assets as a practical hedge against financial instability.
By leveraging Alpaca’s Broker API, Zesty enables the trading of various cryptocurrencies alongside traditional equities from both local and international exchanges.
This multi-asset approach sets the platform apart from many regional competitors, which typically limit users to a narrow selection of coins and lack integrated access to broader markets.
Vicente Rotman, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Zesty, highlighted the strategic importance of the launch. He noted that cryptocurrency trading represents a logical progression for clients and the broader market in Chile.
Many existing local services restrict offerings to just a few tokens, creating unnecessary obstacles for those pursuing diversified portfolios.
Rotman emphasized that the platform’s regulatory compliance provides a level of security and investor safeguards comparable to traditional financial products—an important distinction in a market still developing trust in institutions.
Users can deposit funds directly in Chilean pesos through domestic bank transfers, with the app managing any necessary currency conversions internally.
This streamlines the process, often reducing costs associated with international wires and shortening settlement times depending on the financial institution involved.
The consolidated interface simplifies portfolio management across asset classes.
Rotman further explained that the collaboration with Alpaca enhances operational capabilities, delivering improved liquidity, rapid trade execution, and an expanded selection of instruments.
“Our partnership with Alpaca allows us to scale this offering with deeper liquidity, faster execution, and a broader range of assets,” he added.
Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, expressed enthusiasm for the development eagerness to help Zesty expand operations in Chile.
The partnership helps bridge local currency needs with global opportunities in a compliant and efficient manner, addressing longstanding issues of market fragmentation across Latin America.
Founded in 2021, Zesty operates as a mobile-first fintech company focused on making retail investing accessible via Android and iOS apps.
This latest milestone builds on an earlier collaboration with Alpaca that introduced US equity trading and high-yield cash options.
The addition of crypto trading positions Zesty to better serve evolving investor demands while maintaining strong regulatory standards.
As cryptocurrency interest continues to rise in the region, platforms like Zesty are working to combine convenience, compliance, and comprehensive market access. This development underscores a maturing fintech ecosystem in Chile that prioritizes user-friendly solutions for digital / online investing.
