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De-Dollarization Faltering in Africa Because Citizens Lack Confidence in Their National Currencies
7.8.2024
Despite clearly articulating reasons for de-dollarization in the Global South, African leaders will struggle to convince residents to embrace national currencies without changing economic management practices. People often lose confidence in a currency when a central bank excessively prints money...
Egyptian AI Startup Gets $2M for GCC, Africa Expansion
6.8.2024
Egyptian artificial intelligence firm Synapse Analytics has secured $2 million to expand into the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Africa. The company has partnered with major banking product providers such as AWS, Crealogix, and TUMM. Using AI to Simplify Access to Finance The Egyptian...
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...
South African Crypto Asset Marketplace Initiates $1.64 Million Capital Raise
5.8.2024
The South African decentralized cross-asset marketplace Mesh.trade has facilitated a $1.64 million (ZAR30 million) capital raise for a reverse mortgage provider. The capital raise allows the provider to offer homeowners the potential for lucrative returns while they remain in their homes. Regulated...
Nigeria Acts to Stabilize Currency with Forex Auction
4.8.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will reintroduce a foreign exchange auction system as part of efforts to ease pressure on the local currency. The CBN has called on authorized dealer banks to share their respective lists of outstanding forex demand by end users. Auction System Aims to Mitigate...
Canza Finance Partners With Stablecoin Issuer to Bring Efficient Financial Solutions to Africa
4.8.2024
Canza Finance has partnered with stablecoin issuer WSPN to provide secure and efficient financial solutions to users in Africa and other emerging markets. With the integration of WUSD into Canza Finance’s ecosystem, African users will be able to smoothly convert fiat currencies to the WUSD...
Ethiopian Premier Defends Currency Float Decision, Rejects Devaluation Claims
3.8.2024
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has defended the decision to float the birr and insisted that this move does not amount to the devaluation of the currency. Ahmed stated that the intention is to unify the official and parallel market exchange rates. Reports suggest that Ethiopia’s decision...
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...
Nigerian CBDC Adoption Lags, Makes Up Less Than 1% of Currency in Use
30.7.2024
Nigeria’s central bank digital currency, known as the eNaira, was the first of its kind in Africa. However, it currently represents only about 0.36% of the total currency in circulation. Nigerian experts attribute the slow adoption of the e-naira to its perceived lack of significant benefits...
Ethiopia’s Birr Falls 30% After Currency Float; Forex Surrender Requirements Scrapped
29.7.2024
Ethiopia’s birr plunged 30% against the dollar after the central bank floated the currency as part of reforms aimed at correcting foreign exchange market distortions. The bank also eliminated foreign exchange surrender requirements and lifted restrictions on certain imports. In return...
Zambia De-Dollarization: Central Bank Seeks to Enforce Kwacha as Sole Legal Tender for Domestic Transactions
27.7.2024
The Bank of Zambia has defended its de-dollarization plans but also seeks input from stakeholders who oppose the proposal. The central bank governor clarified that they are not proposing anything new; instead, the bank aims to enforce existing laws designating the kwacha as the sole legal tender...
Study: AI Success in Africa Depends on Availability of Local Language Data and AI Talent
27.7.2024
According to the latest Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) study report, the success of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa hinges largely on the availability of local language data and addressing the AI skills gap. The report urges African countries to prioritize investment...
Russia-Linked Banknotes Blamed for Libyan Dinar Plunge
26.7.2024
The Libyan dinar’s recent devaluation has been blamed on a flood of illicit banknotes exchanged for U.S. dollars. A report identified the Russian state money printer as a potential source of the banknotes, which the Central Bank of Libya has labelled counterfeit. Russia Linked to Illicit...
Giesecke+Devrient: Ghana CBDC Nullifies the Need for Multiple Intermediaries in Cross-Border Payments
25.7.2024
The recently completed proof of concept by the Bank of Ghana and the Monetary Authority of Singapore demonstrated that the latter’s central bank digital currency enables cross-border payments, excluding many intermediaries and associated costs. Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) stated that the proof...
How Solana is transforming cross-border agricultural trade
24.7.2024
AgriDex’s blockchain-based platform enabled a South African farm to complete a trade with a London importer, showcasing the benefits of onchain settlements
How Solana is transforming cross-border agricultural trade
24.7.2024
AgriDex’s blockchain-based platform enabled a South African farm to complete a trade with a London importer, showcasing the benefits of onchain settlements
AgriDex Settles First Agricultural Trade on Solana Blockchain
24.7.2024
AgriDex, a Solana-based marketplace aiming to bring the global agricultural market on-chain by tokenizing various crops has settled its first agricultural trade on the Solana blockchain, it told CoinDesk on Wednesday
South African Startup Neonomad to Launch Rand-Backed Stablecoin
24.7.2024
Neonomad, the South African hybrid exchange platform, is set to launch Zarcoin, a stablecoin tied to the South African Rand. This innovative stablecoin epitomizes the seamless integration of regulatory safety with decentralized efficiency. Neonomad’s platform will also facilitate multiple...
Nigeria’s Self-Proclaimed Crypto Billionaire Released From Police Custody
21.7.2024
The recently detained Nigerian self-proclaimed cryptocurrency billionaire, Linus Williams, has been released on bail. According to a controversial Instagram celebrity, Verydarkman, the crypto billionaire begged for release but is expected to answer for his alleged crimes soon. Self-Proclaimed...
Nigeria Acts to Defend Naira After Currency Hits New Record Low
21.7.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria recently sold U.S. dollars to Bureaux de Change (BDC) at a flat rate of NGN1,450 per greenback. The central bank stated that eligible BDCs can sell the dollars to end-users at a margin of no more than 1.5% above the purchase exchange rate. The Nigerian apex bank...