Mariblock Weekly

🟠 Discovery Bank to offer in-app trading via Luno in SA

Plus: 🇬🇭 Ghana to deploy blockchain to track gold and curb illegal mining; 🇲🇦 Morocco publishes draft crypto rules.

Welcome to Mariblock Weekly! Oge here with this week’s top developments across Africa’s blockchain and digital asset ecosystem.

- Ghana is turning to blockchain to bring full transparency to its gold industry, with a national Track-and-Trace platform set to go live by the end of 2026.
- In South Africa, Discovery Bank is bringing crypto trading directly into its mobile app through a partnership with Luno, making it easier for customers to buy and sell digital assets.

📌 Don’t miss:
The Catch Up section for other stories you may have missed.

Let’s dive in!

Ghana deploys blockchain to track gold and curb illegal mining

Topline: Ghana is preparing a blockchain-based Track-and-Trace system to monitor all gold purchased and exported from the country by the end of 2026, according to Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi. (Details)

The details: Gyamfi said the system will verify the legitimate origin of every shipment of gold and record the movement of each gram purchased and exported using blockchain.

He noted that licensed mines will undergo audits to ensure they are not serving as fronts for illegal mining operations.
Gyamfi said regulators will be able to monitor gold processing and trade across the entire supply chain.

Zoom in: Gyamfi previously announced that rollout would begin in Q1 2026, but he now expects deployment by the end of 2026 after more detailed procurement and planning.

The Gold Board is seven months into operation, and Gyamfi said enforcement activities have already increased ahead of launch.
He stated that the board is setting up an ISO-certified assay laboratory to improve testing and validation of artisanal and small-scale mining output.

Why it matters: Ghana joins a list of countries experimenting with blockchain to track minerals and improve transparency and verification across sectors.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a blockchain platform to store and verify state-issued diplomas.
Mauritius deployed a blockchain verification service in 2023 to support education, healthcare and legal records.
In Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has publicly supported the use of blockchain to increase transparency in diamond production.

South Africa’s Discovery Bank to support crypto transactions with Luno integration

Topline: South Africa’s Discovery Bank is partnering with crypto exchange Luno to enable crypto trading directly inside its mobile banking app. (Details)

Quick facts: The new feature is expected to launch next month and will allow customers to switch between crypto and fiat transactions in one place.

Users will be able to move funds between their bank accounts and Luno wallets at reduced fees.
Customers can also earn points based on funds held in their Luno wallets.

Regulation driving innovation: Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner said the partnership is possible because crypto has become more mainstream in South Africa under clear regulation.

He noted that customer demand has grown significantly, reflecting broader national adoption of digital assets.
The arrangement leverages Luno’s status as a licensed crypto asset service provider in the country.

Zoom out: More South African financial institutions have been incorporating crypto services since the country formalized digital asset regulation.

In 2022, crypto assets were legally classified as financial products and brought under the Financial Intelligence Act.
Since then, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority has issued licenses to more than 240 crypto-related firms.
Absa recently partnered with Ripple to provide institutional digital asset custody, signaling a growing appetite for crypto among traditional banks.