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South African Tax Body Updates Crypto Tax Guidance, Confusion Persists
2.9.2021
In late August, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) released new guidelines that clarify the correct treatment of taxable crypto events. The new guidance, which was published on the revenue collector’s webpage, explains how cryptocurrency-related income should be disclosed in...
South African Central Bank Governor Reiterates: ‘Crypto Is Not Currency’
30.8.2021
The governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Lesetja Kganyago, has reiterated the central bank’s longstanding belief that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are not currencies. According to Kganyago, crypto-assets, as he prefers to call them, are not currencies because they fail to meet...
Young South African Engineer Rues Deleting Computer File Containing Keys to 20 BTC
18.8.2021
A young South African electronics engineer has rued his decision to delete a text document containing the keys and password to a crypto wallet that held some 20 bitcoins. According to the engineer, the lost coins had been mined more than ten years ago using a modified personal computer that...
South African Expert Says Tax-Dodging Crypto Traders Face Heightened Jail Threat
13.8.2021
A South African tax expert, Thomas Lobban, has warned non-tax paying crypto traders that they now face possible jail time if the South African Revenue Services (SARS) decides to lay tax offense charges against them. He adds that this threat of jail time similarly applies to South African crypto...
Barrick Gold CEO Says ‘No One Believes in Fiat Currencies Anymore’
10.8.2021
The South African businessman and CEO at Barrick Gold Corporation, Mark Bristow, recently explained in an interview that “no one believes in fiat currencies anymore.” Bristow says the world is currently “battling” on how to “position investments on the back of...
FBI Joins Probe Into Collapsed South African Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme
5.8.2021
In what is seen as a boost for Mirror Trading International (MTI) investors, United States investigators are said to have joined the probe into the collapsed bitcoin scheme. According to a report, the U.S. investigators’ goal for joining this probe is to help “recover the assets...
South African Start-Up Aims To Shield Merchants From Crypto Price Swings
5.8.2021
While opponents of cryptocurrencies continue to peddle the environmental damage or the terrorism funding narrative, users from countries where the majority is financially excluded see these as a breakthrough innovation. Crypto Utility Inspires Volatility Solutions For instance, to undocumented...
Monero Developer Arrested in US on Fraud Charges at Request of South African Government
4.8.2021
Former lead maintainer of Monero Riccardo Spagni, aka Fluffypony, has been arrested in the U.S. and is now waiting for his extradition to South Africa where he will stand trial for fraud. Spagni described the case as “an old matter, which I have continuously been trying to resolve since...
South Africa Bitcoin Heist: Court Grants Liquidators Authority to Track Missing Africrypt Investor Funds
3.8.2021
A South African court has granted liquidators of the collapsed bitcoin investment firm Africrypt the powers to track down missing investor funds. Also, as part of the court decision, Africrypt liquidators will now have the authority to sell assets and property belonging to the company....
Kenyan Insurance Executive Calls Cryptocurrencies Ponzi Schemes, Warns Users This Will ‘End in Tears’
2.8.2021
A Kenyan insurance executive, Julius Kipng’etich has compared cryptocurrencies like bitcoin to Ponzi schemes and has urged his countrymen not “touch this.” In addition, Kipng’etich warned those already involved in crypto trading to be prepared for the consequences as this...
Central Bank Governor: South Africa’s Digital Currency Study Ongoing
31.7.2021
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor, Lesetja Kganyago, has once again confirmed that the central bank is presently studying the feasibility of issuing a digital currency. In his remarks at the SARB’s annual general meeting, governor Kganyago suggested his organization has embarked...
Namibia Central Bank to Complete Crypto Study By April 2022 — Governor Says Current Laws Do not Permit Use of Digital Assets
25.7.2021
The Bank of Namibia (BON) is on course to complete its study into cryptocurrencies by April 2022, the central bank governor, Johannes Gawaxab recently confirmed. The governor however reiterated that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender as there is currently no provision for digital currency use...
South African Central Bank Warns Citizens Against Accepting Tainted Banknotes
20.7.2021
A week after more than 1,400 ATMs in South Africa were attacked during a looting spree, the country’s central bank is now asking citizens to reject banknotes that are stained with traces of blue and green ink. Increasing Circulation of Stained Banknotes According to an EWN report, the South...
Report: Tweaks to South African Tax Filing System to Result in Decreased Crypto Arbitrage
17.7.2021
Reports from South Africa suggest that tax authorities have plugged a loophole on the online tax filing system that enabled crypto arbitrage traders to make several purchases on overseas cryptocurrency platforms using just one approval. As a consequence of these tweaks, crypto arbitrage traders...
South Africa Regulator Wants Mirror Trading International to Pay Millions as Penalty For Contravening Financial Sector Law
8.7.2021
A South African regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has informed key figures behind Mirror Trading International (MTI) that it intends to impose a fine of $7 million against the now-defunct crypto investment company. Contravention of Financial Sector Law According to a July...
South African Court Grants Final Liquidation Order Against the ‘Biggest Cryptocurrency Scam in 2020’
3.7.2021
A South African judge, Justice Alma de Wet, has ruled in favor of granting a final liquidation order against Mirror Trading International (MTI), the country’s biggest bitcoin scam in the past year. Nevertheless, the judge postponed a ruling on an application by MTI liquidators to have...
South African Regulators Reportedly Fast-Tracking Crypto Regulatory Framework
1.7.2021
With South Africa receiving more than its fair share of cryptocurrency-related scams, a report suggests that regulators are responding to this challenge by fast-tracking the process of creating a new regulatory framework. As a result, regulators now expect this process, which was preceded “by...
South African asset manager denies stealing billions from users, claims $5M was lost in hack
29.6.2021
AfriCrypt’s founders deny running off with billions in customers funds, asserting they went into hiding after receiving death threats from “dangerous people.”
Africrypt Ponzi Scheme Collapse: South Africa Regulator Says Its ‘Not in a Position to Take Any Regulatory Action’
25.6.2021
Following Africrypt’s collapse, South African regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), released a statement asserting its lack of jurisdiction over cryptocurrencies. Although the regulator says it is “continuing to investigate complaints” against the crypto...
South African ‘Exit Scam’ Sees Brothers Vanish with USD 3.6B in Bitcoin
24.6.2021
An apparent exit scam in South Africa could have left investors out of pocket to the tune of USD 3.6bn after the two brothers who operate the Africrypt project “vanished” following reports of a hushed-up “hack.”
Per Bloomberg, Hanekom Attorneys, a legal firm in Cape Town was hired by investors,...