http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L4595.htm http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L4595.htm Yes, they are. Any currency other than the national cur

http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L4595.htm http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/L4595.htm Yes, they are. Any currency other than the national currency cannot be used for commerce. This is a case where people were using dollars to pay for national contracts: http://jus.com.br/revista/texto/8566/da-impossibilidade-de-pagamento-em-moeda-estrangeira-nos-contratos-celebrados-em-territorio-nacional http://jus.com.br/revista/texto/8566/da-impossibilidade-de-p... The only kind of parallel currency that is acceptable under the law are called 'social currencies' which are just food stamps.