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South Africa Added to FATF ‘Grey List’ Despite Designation of Crypto as a Financial Product
26.2.2023
In a move seen as a major setback for South Africa, the international financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force, announced on Feb. 24 that it had added the country to its “grey list.” Getting grey-listed by the financial watchdog potentially makes it difficult for South Africa...
Report: FTX Promised High Earnings to African Students That Successfully Recruited Fellow Learners
17.2.2023
The collapsed crypto exchange FTX reportedly used the lure of high earnings to convince African university students to become its ambassadors. In addition to encouraging new FTX investors to use the platform, student ambassadors were also required to teach them about crypto and the blockchain. Some...
Tanzania ‘cautious’ on CBDC adoption after initial research
16.1.2023
The Bank of Tanzania is waiting for the conclusion of its research into CBDCs before making a final decision on adoption
FTX Collapse: African Crypto Industry Leaders’ Perspective and Advice to Regulators
16.11.2022
The collapse of FTX and subsequent calls for tougher regulation by the likes of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren have increased the likelihood of regulators adopting even stricter crypto laws. In Africa, crypto industry participants warn of the unintended consequences arising from rushed...
Report: Just Over Half of South Africans Have Little to Zero Knowledge About Cryptocurrencies
27.7.2022
About 53% of South Africans have little to no knowledge about cryptocurrency, while only 14% thought or felt they had a better understanding of the subject, a report has said. Nearly half of the respondents said they would only invest in cryptocurrency if or when their respective banks...
Africa can create an inclusive society with blockchain, says LBank CEO
18.7.2022
Allen Wei, the CEO of LBank exchange, told Cointelegraph that blockchain could contribute to the creation of a robust economy in Africa
South African Crypto Investors and Service Providers Told of Legal and Tax Implications of Central Bank’s Plan
17.7.2022
South African tax consultancy firm Tax Consulting SA, has said the recent announcement by the central bank — that will start to regulate cryptocurrency in 12 to 18 months — has legal and tax implications for both crypto investors and organizations providing intermediary services....
Binance CEO Meets Senegalese and Ivory Coast Presidents, Says ‘Africa Is Primed for Crypto Adoption’
8.7.2022
Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, tweeted that he recently held meetings with the presidents of Senegal and Ivory Coast. The meetings are part of his initiative which is aimed at driving up the adoption of cryptocurrency in Africa and beyond. CZ’s Meeting With...
Study: 7.6 Million South Africans Are Crypto Investors, Social Media Main Source of Crypto-Related Information
17.6.2022
About 22% of South Africa’s adult population, or 7.6 million people, are cryptocurrency investors, findings by a study done by Kucoin cryptocurrency exchange have shown. According to the study, 72% of the respondents said they get information concerning particular crypto projects via social...
Ugandan central bank U-turns on crypto welcoming firms to regulatory sandbox
6.6.2022
The bank advised the Blockchain Association of Uganda (BAU) to sharpen up its knowledge of the sandbox regulations, inviting its members along to further technical discussions
Binance to launch Africa crypto awareness tour as adoption ramps up
31.5.2022
BCAT Africa 2022 aims to increase crypto awareness on the continent at a time when more Africans are turning to digital assets
Nigeria upgrades CBDC as crypto restrictions cripple fintech industry
10.5.2022
Nigeria’s central bank has upgraded its eNaira to steer the country away from crypto even after a UN report stated that restrictions on digital currencies are stifling the nation's fintech sector
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...
Survey: Proportion of South African Crypto Holders Grows to 11.3%, 56% of Crypto Owners Hold Bitcoin
16.1.2022
The number of surveyed South Africans that own crypto grew marginally from 10.3% in October 2021, to 11.3% in December 2021. With this rate of ownership, South Africa is now ranked number 21 out of the 27 countries whose internet users participated in the survey. South African Ownership Rate Below...
Report: Kenya Set to Scale Up Adoption of Cryptocurrencies in 2022
10.1.2022
In his Africa crypto market predictions for 2022, Marius Reitz, the general manager for Luno in Africa, has predicted that Kenya will scale up the adoption of cryptocurrencies. To support this assertion, Reitz points to Kenya’s as position as the leader in the world’s peer-to-peer...
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...
Another Unnamed Investor Offers to Bail Out Collapsed South Africa Crypto Firm
8.12.2021
A new unnamed investor has offered to bail out Africrypt, the collapsed South Africa-based crypto investment company, with $5 million. The offer, which does not require criminal charges against Africrypt directors to be dropped, must be accepted within seven days. A Better Offer A new mystery...
Start-up Raises $2 Million to Pioneer Cryptocurrency Usage in Francophone Africa
10.10.2021
A Cameroonian fintech start-up, Ejara, has raised $2 million to pioneer the usage of crypto and investment services in French-speaking African countries. Coinshares Ventures and Anthemis Group led the funding round in which they were joined by Mercy Corps Ventures, Lateral Capital, Lofty...
South African University Professor Urges Country to ‘Finalize Cryptocurrency Policy’ — Warns Against Resisting Crypto
27.9.2021
A professor with the University of Johannesburg, Rabelani Dagada, has urged South Africa to finalize its cryptocurrency public policy if the country still wants to become a hub for digital currency innovation. History Will Repeat Itself In an opinion published by Itweb, Dagada warned South African...
25% of South Africans Own Cryptocurrency With Average Value of Assets Held Below $70
15.9.2021
According to the findings of a study by KLA, a market research and data specialist firm, some 47% of South African adults are holders of cryptocurrency, with the majority of this number holding low-value investments. In addition, the study shows that 36% plan to invest in crypto in the future....