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Former US Federal Agent Tigran Gambaryan Marks 6 Months in Nigerian Detention
27.8.2024
Tigran Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal agent and Binance executive, has now spent six months in Nigerian detention. Lawyers say he has been denied proper medical care, leading to severe health issues, including a herniated disc that has left him unable to walk. Additionally, his lawyers said that...
AI Curiosity Explodes: South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya Embrace the Technology
25.8.2024
During the first half of 2024, Google Search trends revealed a significant rise in interest in artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Interest in AI grew by 150% in Kenya, 130% in Nigeria, and 120% in South Africa compared to the same period in 2023. Kenya ranked fourth...
Yellow Card, Fireblocks Partner to Streamline African Cross-Border Payments
23.8.2024
Yellow Card, a leading stablecoin platform, has partnered with Fireblocks, a digital asset infrastructure provider, to improve cross-border transactions in Africa. By leveraging Fireblocks’ technology, Yellow Card aims to provide secure and efficient on-chain solutions for businesses...
Zimbabwe’s Gold-Backed Currency Sees Gains, but US Dollar Remains Dominant
21.8.2024
Zimbabwe’s gold-backed currency, the ZIG, has seen a significant increase in usage since its introduction in April. While the U.S. dollar remains the dominant currency for most citizens, the ZIG is used for 40% of payments and 80% of government transactions. The government aims to eventually...
Nigeria’s SEC Denies Issuing Provisional Crypto Licenses
21.8.2024
Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that it has not yet issued any crypto licenses, contrary to some reports. The SEC plans to start issuing licenses for digital services and tokenized assets in August 2024. This move follows increased scrutiny of crypto exchanges and...
Zimbabwe Central Bank Denies Forced Remittance Conversion Claims
17.8.2024
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has denied claims that it intends to force recipients of U.S. dollar-denominated remittances to convert their funds into local currency. The central bank clarified that it has no plans to review its diaspora remittances policy. According to the RBZ, the market...
Brazilian Judge Ends Inquiry Into Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme Mastermind’s Death
17.8.2024
A Brazilian federal judge has ordered criminal charges against Johann Steynberg, the late CEO of the bitcoin trading platform Mirror Trading International (MTI), to be dropped after a police investigation confirmed reports of his death. The order was handed down by Judge Silvio Gemaque, who said...
South Africa Unveils National AI Policy Framework, Seeks Stakeholder Feedback
15.8.2024
South Africa has published a national policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) and is seeking feedback from stakeholders. This framework is the first step towards developing a comprehensive national AI policy. It aims to foster a robust AI ecosystem through coordinated efforts in research...
Nigeria Blocks Jailed Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan’s Legal Team
15.8.2024
Jailed Binance employee and an American citizen, Tigran Gambaryan, is reportedly experiencing severe health issues. Since a Nigerian court adjourned his hearing to October 11, his detention conditions have worsened, and his legal team has been blocked from visiting him, violating Nigerian...
Okx Says Accounts Interacting With Tornado Cash Will Be Closed
10.8.2024
According to the CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange Okx, users are now barred from account interacting with Tornado Cash and Garantex. In a post on social media, the CEO said any Okx accounts receiving deposits from sanctioned entities, including Garantex and Tornado Cash, will trigger compliance...
Ethiopia Announces Launch of Forex Auction Sale Days After Birr Float
8.8.2024
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) said it will conduct a special foreign exchange auction on Aug. 7. The Ethiopian central bank envisions similar auctions in the coming weeks, depending on market conditions. The NBE said banks keen on participating must submit their bids on the date of the sale....
Group Urges Nigeria to End Naira Float, Reinstate Subsidies
7.8.2024
The Nigerian government has been urged to abandon a floating foreign exchange system and reintroduce subsidies in the power and energy, agriculture, and transportation sectors. In a communique, the Multidisciplinary Finance Professionals (MFP) said the Nigerian government should not determine...
East African Scientists Use AI for Accurate Extreme Weather Forecasts
6.8.2024
Climate scientists in East Africa are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into traditional weather forecasting methods to enhance the accuracy of extreme weather predictions. The region faces increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change. By combining...
Whatsapp Warns It May Leave Nigeria Over Order to Pay a $220 Million Fine
3.8.2024
Whatsapp, the social media platform owned by Meta Inc., has stated that it would be impossible to comply with additional demands from Nigeria’s consumer protection agency. The social media platform argues that the Nigerian agency’s order compelling it to pay a $220 million fine contains multiple...
Ghana Launches Centralized Online Foreign Exchange Trading Platform
2.8.2024
The Bank of Ghana has recently launched a centralized online foreign exchange trading platform. This platform aims to enhance secure and efficient operations in the foreign exchange market. As of August 1, 2024, all licensed Foreign Exchange Bureaux are mandated to use this platform for buying...
Huawei Aims to Drive AI Adoption in Africa With Data Center Expansion
31.7.2024
Chinese tech giant Huawei says it will leverage its experience to help African customers. The company aims to achieve this by providing storage products and services to manage data. Huawei will also offer cloud services to support African businesses. According to the company, data centers are...
Zimbabwe Injects $50M in Forex Market to Stabilize Currency
27.7.2024
Zimbabwe’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), has injected over US$50 million into the interbank foreign exchange market to stabilize the economy. This move comes as the parallel market exchange rate is significantly higher than the official rate, causing economic instability....
HSBC Australia Blocks Payments to Crypto Exchanges
25.7.2024
HSBC Australia has announced that it will block all customer payments to cryptocurrency exchanges via credit or debit cards, starting from July 24, 2024. The bank cites the high-risk nature of such transactions as the primary reason for this decision. HSBC Australia claimed scammers frequently...
Nigeria to Train 1,000 Residents Annually in AI and Blockchain Technologies
24.7.2024
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an initiative to train 1,000 Nigerians annually in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other cutting-edge technologies. The program, called the “AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative,” aims...
Meta to Appeal Nigeria’s $220 Million Data Privacy Fine
22.7.2024
Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has fined Meta (formerly Facebook) $220 million for alleged data privacy violations. The investigation centered on Whatsapp LLC and Meta’s failure to allow users to consent to the gathering and use of their data. The FCCPC...