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South Africa’s Regulator Approves 59 Crypto Licences: Report
14.3.2024
South Africa's regulator Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has approved 59 operating licenses for cryptocurrency exchanges, according to a Reuters report citing an official from the regulatory body.
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Study: Less Than 5% of South Africa-Based Crypto Asset Providers Generate Revenues Exceeding $8 Million
3.12.2023
Only five percent of surveyed South African crypto-asset financial service providers (FSPs) are generating revenue between $8 million and $10 million. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority study found that many of the crypto asset FSPs “earn their revenue from trading fees.” Only...
Report: South Africa Regulator Says Unlicensed Crypto Exchanges in 2024 May Be Closed Down
6.7.2023
According to the regulator of the South African financial services industry, cryptocurrency exchanges based in the country must secure operating licenses before the year ends. Crypto exchanges that fail to abide by the requirement will either be fined or closed down, Unathi Kamlana, the Financial...
Bank of Russia Analysts Note Ditching US Dollar Is ‘Hardly Possible’ Without Structural Changes to Foreign Trade
14.4.2023
A report from the research department of the Bank of Russia shows that, due to the structure of foreign trade contracts, it will be difficult to ditch the usage of the U.S. dollar to settle payments. The analysts found that contracts are often denominated in U.S. dollars and that most transactions...
Report: Regulations Governing Tokenized Deposits and Crypto Assets in South Africa Set to Effect in January 2025
26.3.2023
Regulations governing tokenized deposits and crypto assets are likely to become effective on Jan. 1, 2025, a senior fintech analyst at the South African central bank has revealed. However, according to the analyst, regulators are still trying to understand or learn the risks that come with using...
Crypto Policy: Kenyan Senate Ready to Engage Central Bank
24.2.2023
The Kenyan Senate’s Information, Communication and Technology committee has said it is ready to engage the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and other stakeholders in shaping the country’s policy towards crypto assets and virtual asset service providers. According to the committee, such...
South African Retailer Pick n Pay Now Accepting Payments via BTC at All Its Stores
3.2.2023
Pick n Pay, one of South Africa’s leading retailers, reportedly now accepts bitcoin as payment at all its stores across the country. Using the bitcoin lightning network, Pick n Pay’s customers can now buy items such as groceries, airtime and electricity tokens. Using BTC for Everyday...
South African Dispute Resolution Office Says It Now Considers Crypto-Related Complaints
24.1.2023
According to South Africa’s Office of the FAIS Ombud, an independent dispute resolution office, individuals with crypto-related grievances that occurred after Oct. 19, 2022, can now formally submit such complaints on the agency’s website. However, the Office of the FAIS Ombud insisted...
South African Government to Add Crypto Entities to ‘List of Accountable Institutions’
2.12.2022
According to the South African government, crypto entities — or businesses whose activities include the exchange or transfer of crypto assets — are set to be included in the list of so-called accountable institutions starting Dec. 19. Businesses that convert one crypto asset to another or that...
Canada to examine crypto, stablecoins, and CBDCs in new budget
4.11.2022
Canada’s government stated its concerns on the risks digital assets and the digitalization of money may pose to its financial system as a reason for launching the consultation
South Africa Retailer Pick n Pay Now Accepts Payment in Bitcoin at 39 Outlets
3.11.2022
Pick n Pay, the South African retailer, has revealed that some of its grocery stores are now accepting bitcoin payments. To ensure payments are affordable, Pick n Pay reportedly uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network which is said to be suitable for “high volume, low-value transactions.”...
South African Financial Sector Regulator Declares Crypto Assets a Financial Product
20.10.2022
According to a general notice published in a government gazette, crypto assets are now treated as financial products under South Africa’s Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act. Declaration of the crypto assets as financial products means crypto asset service providers...
Binance Resumes Offering Futures Trading Products to South African Users
27.9.2022
One of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges by volumes traded, Binance, has said its futures products are now available to eligible South African users. In a message to its users, Binance suggested it has rectified issues with the regional regulator and that its activities in South...
South African Regulator Explains Why It Has Been Targeting Global Crypto Exchanges
8.3.2022
Brandon Topham, the head of enforcement at South Africa’s financial sector regulator, has insisted that his organization has not issued warnings to some global exchanges because they deal in crypto. Rather, the warnings have been made because the exchanges are not registered to offer...
South African Regulator Urges Public to Be More Cautious When Dealing With FTX, Bybit
3.2.2022
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has warned the investing public to be cautious when trading on the cryptocurrency platforms FTX and Bybit. The FSCA alleges that neither entity has been licensed to trade in Contracts for Difference (CFD) or to provide financial advisory...
Crypto Complaints Have Increased Significantly Says South Africa Financial Sector Ombud
21.12.2021
Nonkumbulo Tshombe, an advocate with the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Ombud, recently revealed that her office has noted a significant increase in the number of cryptocurrency-related complaints during the 2020/21 financial year. Cryptocurrency Not yet Regulated An advocate...
Regulator Claims South Africa Set to Unveil Cryptocurrency Regulatory Framework in Early 2022
11.12.2021
In early 2022, South Africa will have a new regulatory framework that covers cryptocurrencies, a commissioner with a regulatory body has said. Highly Risky Products South Africa’s financial sector regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is set to unveil a new regulatory...
Bank of Russia Rejects Provision of Crypto-Related Financial Services
7.12.2021
Russia’s central bank has voiced opposition to the provision of financial services related to cryptocurrencies. The monetary authority believes such offerings would go against the interests of Russian investors as they are highly risky. Central Bank of Russia Unwilling to Allow Financial...
IMF Partly Blames Uncertainty in Nigeria’s Forex Market for Drop in Remittances
26.10.2021
The uncertainty that prevails in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market is partly to blame for the plunge in cross-border remittances into the country, an official with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. Covid-19 Another Contributing Factor According to a report by local news outlet...
South African Regulator ‘Welcomes’ Binance’s Decision to Terminate Certain Services in the Country
16.10.2021
A South African regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), says it welcomes Binance’s decision to stop offering some of its services to South Africans. Productive Consultations In a statement, the FSCA suggested that the move by the cryptocurrency exchange came after it held...