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South African Regulator Licenses 75 Institutions as Crypto Asset Service Providers
24.4.2024
South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority said on April 22 that it has approved 75 institutions to be licensed as crypto asset service providers (CASPs). The regulator said the unveiling of licensed CASPs is intended to dispel misconceptions arising from the supposedly misleading...
Nigerian Blockchain-Based Payment Startup, Ivorypay, Partners With Stablecoin Issuer, Tether
21.4.2024
A Nigerian startup specializing in blockchain-based payments and remittances has entered into a partnership arrangement with the stablecoin issuer Tether. The arrangement is expected to extend the benefits of stable digital transactions to a larger number of consumers and businesses across...
South African Regulator Set to Issue Licenses to 60 Crypto Platforms by End of March
15.3.2024
A South African regulator has said it plans to issue licenses to 60 crypto platforms by the end of March. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has said it is still processing the more than 300 applications it received late last year. South African regulators plan to oversee the activities...
Global BTC Trading App Strike Launches ‘First Fully-Featured Region Outside the US’
29.2.2024
The fiat and bitcoin payments app, Strike, has launched its “first fully-featured region outside the U.S.” According to Jack Mallers, the founder and CEO of Strike, the African continent presents “immense opportunities for financial innovation and economic freedom.” High...
South Africa Regulators to Unveil Document Categorizing Stablecoins as a ‘Particular Type of Crypto Asset’
26.2.2024
In 2024, the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group, a consortium of South African regulators that unveiled a position paper on crypto assets in 2021, is expected to “publish additions to include stablecoins as a particular type of crypto asset.” The consortium is also considering...
Licenced Stablecoin on/off Ramp Yellow Card to Introduce USDC on Stellar Network
16.2.2024
The African stablecoin on/off ramp, Yellow Card, is set to introduce the stablecoin USDC on the Stellar network. This partnership has the potential to transform global payments and accelerate the adoption of digital assets. Lightning Fast Transfer Speed Yellow Card, a major licensed stablecoin...
Ethiopia’s Affordable Hydropower and Adoption of Crypto Mining Attracts Chinese Bitcoin Miners
13.2.2024
The Ethiopian state electricity company has reportedly signed power supply agreements with 21 mainly Chinese bitcoin miners. The African country’s pursuit of foreign exchange has seemingly taken precedence over the concerns often raised by climate change advocates. Ethiopia Set to Become...
South African Regulator Expects to Determine Fate of 50 Crypto License Applications in ‘Coming Weeks’
26.1.2024
The head of enforcement at South Africa’s financial industry watchdog said on Jan. 24 that he expects the organization to decide the fate of 50 crypto firms’ license applicants in the coming weeks. The watchdog stated that from the more than 100 entities that applied for a license, 20 have since...
Report: South African Financial Institutions Will Soon Offer Services Related to Cryptocurrencies
13.12.2023
About 73 applicants who are seeking a license to offer crypto products in South Africa are already registered as accountable institutions with the Financial Intelligence Centre, an executive at the crypto exchange Luno has said. According to the Luno executive, this may be an indication that...
Jailed Mastermind of South African Bitcoin Scam Reportedly Getting Preferential Treatment in Brazilian Prison
12.12.2023
Johann Steynberg, the imprisoned CEO of Mirror Trading International, a South African Bitcoin scam entity, is allegedly receiving preferential treatment in a Brazilian prison. The General Directorate of Penitentiary Administration (DGAP) has confirmed receiving a complaint about Steynberg’s access...
Nigerian Crypto Firm Bitmama to Pay $1 Million for Startup That Raised $3 Million in February
8.12.2023
The Nigerian crypto platform Bitmama is reportedly set to acquire the African remittances startup Payday for $1 million. Reports of Payday’s acquisition come almost a year after the startup raised $3 million in a funding round. Bitmama’s Pivot From Crypto The Nigerian crypto platform...
South African Crypto Exchanges Revix and Bitfund Merge With Austrian Digital Asset Platform
3.12.2023
Two South African crypto platforms and an Austria-based digital asset platform have joined forces to launch a new alternative investment platform called Altify. The goal of the new outfit is to enable South African investors, particularly the younger ones, to harness the power of alternative...
Stitch Launches Payment Service Allowing Customers to Settle With Crypto in South Africa
23.11.2023
A new product offering recently launched by Stitch, a South African payment service provider, now enables customers to settle transactions with crypto. According to Stitch, this new functionality makes it possible for customers to pay with bitcoin (BTC) or ether (ETH). Local Businesses to Receive...
South African Financial Giant Says It Will Inject Capital Into ZARP Stablecoin Network
7.11.2023
South Africa’s Old Mutual Wealth and financial services provider Inves Capital recently revealed plans to inject liquidity into the ZARP stablecoin network. Inves Capital’s managing director said “crypto is entering a new phase” of growth and ZARP is set to “play...
South African Crypto Platform Pins Hope on ‘Phased Asset Recovery’ Proposal
30.10.2023
A South African crypto investment platform has expressed hopes that an asset recovery proposal will result in users regaining access to funds blocked after its custody partner froze withdrawals. The crypto platform said it has also engaged regulators whom it hopes will help expedite resolution...
Report: Valr Partnership With Visa to Expand the Reach of the South African Crypto Exchange
18.10.2023
The South African crypto exchange Valr said its partnership with the global card firm Visa is set to expand the former’s reach. The two companies said they would work on a solution that enables Valr customers to use the card firm’s network to make or receive payments. Harnessing Visa’s...
South African Crypto Exchange Valr Receives ‘Initial Approval’ From Dubai Virtual Assets Regulator
5.10.2023
Valr, the South Africa-based crypto exchange, recently said it had won initial approval from the Dubai virtual assets regulator. The crypto exchange’s Head of Growth, Blake Player, said Valr has been attracted by the Middle East region’s significant crypto flows and in particular Dubai’s growing...
Crypto Exchange Bybit Launches Derivatives Products in South Africa
4.10.2023
Bybit announced on Oct. 2 that it will be offering its crypto derivatives products in South Africa through Money Doc which acts as the crypto exchange’s “juristic representative.” The crypto exchange said its on-ramp service enables South African users to make deposits in local...
Report: Victims of South African BTC Scam Set to Receive Portion of Invested Funds
3.10.2023
Some investors who invested in the South African bitcoin pyramid scheme MTI are set to receive part of their money back once a court rules on how liquidators are supposed to handle claims. Liquidators expect to make more than one payout to affected investors while the process itself is expected...
Study: Sub-Saharan Africa’s Bitcoin Transaction Volume Number One Globally, Data Indicates Shift Towards Stablecoins
23.9.2023
Despite accounting for just 2.3% of global transaction volume, the latest data shows that crypto has penetrated key markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and “become an important part of many residents’ day-to-day lives.” With a regional volume of 9.3%, Sub-Saharan Africa’s...