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Network Latency Drives Solana Validator to South Africa’s Commercial Hub
14.9.2024
Superfast founder Martin Tromp has launched a Solana validator in one of Teraco’s Johannesburg data centers. Solana is a fast, scalable blockchain platform competing with Ethereum. As a proof-of-stake system, validators like Tromp’s play a crucial role in maintaining network security...
Uniswap Labs CEO Denies Protocol Deployment Extortion Claims
14.9.2024
Uniswap Labs CEO Hayden Abrams has refuted claims that the platform charges $20 million for protocol deployments, calling them “completely false.” Abrams, who said he rarely engages with individuals seeking attention, explained that protocol deployments typically follow a governance...
Nigeria Accuses Four Crypto Traders of Forex Regulations Violations
13.9.2024
The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against four individuals and several firms for allegedly conducting illegal crypto transactions, including USDT to naira conversions, without a banking license. The four are Ejiogu A. Chinedu, Nnamdi F. Okereke, Oty Ugochukwu Stanley,...
Lengthy Licensing Stumps Kenyan Fintech Startups
13.9.2024
Fintech startups face significant challenges when expanding to Kenya, primarily due to the lengthy and complex process of obtaining an operating license. Obtaining a payment service provider (PSP) license can take up to two years, forcing startups to rely on workarounds such as partnerships with...
US and Africa Urged to Collaborate on AI Development
12.9.2024
A two-day pan-African AI conference was held in Lagos, Nigeria, co-hosted by the United States. The conference aimed to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems in Africa, with hundreds of attendees from various fields. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized the importance...
US, Nigeria Convene AI Conference to Promote Inclusive Tech Adoption
9.9.2024
The U.S. and Nigeria will host a pan-African Artificial Intelligence (AI) conference in Lagos from September 10-11. The conference will bring together government officials, tech leaders, and civil society to discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI development and use. Participants will work...
Beleaguered Libyan Central Bank Governor Flees Armed Militia
4.9.2024
Libya’s central bank governor, Sadiq al-Kabir, has fled the country due to threats and intimidation from armed militias. He claims that these actions are aimed at forcing him and other bank staff to return to work and comply with the interim Prime Minister’s attempts to replace him....
Japan’s Financial Services Agency Includes Crypto in 2025 Tax Proposal
4.9.2024
The Financial Services Agency has released its tax reform requests for fiscal year 2025, highlighting the need to consider the tax treatment of virtual currency transactions as financial assets. This marks the first time virtual currencies are mentioned in such requests. Industry groups have long...
Jailed Binance Employee Tigran Gambaryan Denied Wheelchair, Forced to Use Crutches
3.9.2024
Jailed Binance employee, Tigran Gambaryan, was denied the use of a wheelchair while entering court and had to use crutches, causing visible pain and distress. His lawyers filed a new bail application citing medical grounds and blocked access to him. The prosecution opposed the application, claiming...
Crypto Hacks and Scams Cost $300 Million in August
1.9.2024
In August, approximately $310.9 million was lost to exploits, hacks, and scams. However, digital assets worth $10.3 million were recovered, resulting in a net loss of $300.6 million. According to the security firm Certik, this is the second-highest monthly loss in 2024 so far. While May had...
Tanzania Reportedly Blocks X Amid Opposition Crackdown
1.9.2024
The East African nation of Tanzania has reportedly restricted access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This ongoing outage has been confirmed by Netblocks, an internet observatory organization. The incident coincides with a police alert regarding alleged plans by the opposition...
Binance CEO Calls Nigeria’s Detention of Tigran Gambaryan Unjust
28.8.2024
Binance CEO Richard Teng has said that Tigran Gambaryan, a former U.S. federal agent working for Binance, has been unjustly detained in Nigeria for six months. Teng reiterated claims that Gambaryan’s physical and mental health has deteriorated significantly while in detention. The...
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...