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🟠 Nigeria and South Africa exit FATF’s grey list

Plus: 🌍 Nigeria, South Africa and two other African countries exit FATF’s grey list 🇿🇦 Ripple to provide digital assets custody services for Absa’s users 🇰🇪 Kenya edges toward crypto regulation as parliament passes VASP bill

Kenya’s crypto industry reacts as VASP Act becomes law

Stakeholders are saying the Act is a step in the right direction, as it provides legal backing to an ecosystem long in the shadows.

Nigeria, South Africa and two other African countries exit FATF’s grey list

According the IMF, these countries have lost significant sums of money as a result of being grey listed by the FATF

Tether invests in Kotani Pay to revolutionize Africa’s digital asset infrastructure and cross-border payment

Kotani Pay receives a strategic investment from Tether to scale blockchain-powered access to global liquidity, streamline cross-border transactions, and drive financial inclusion across Africa.

Unlocking Africa’s next economy would require new money

Ayotunde Alabi highlights how adopting stablecoins and tokenized assets can help Africa build a modern financial system that drives trade and economic growth.

Ripple to provide digital assets custody services for Absa’s users

The move combines modern digital asset technology with the security and trust of a tradfi institution to provide digital asset custody.

Africa moved $54 billion in stablecoins; now what?

Despite these impressive figures, there is a huge policy vacuum sitting between potential and scale.

Kenya edges toward crypto regulation as parliament passes VASP bill

The bill has scrapped the creation of a new agency, VARA, and has instead placed VASPs under the CMA and CBK’s regulatory oversight.

Uganda launches CBDC pilot in $5.5 billion tokenization drive

The digital currency is backed by Ugandan treasury bonds and can be accessed via smartphones.

Paxful shuts down, blames ex-co-founders Youssef and Schaback

The exchange asked users to withdraw their funds before November 1 when it will cease all operations

SWIFT partners with global and African banks on blockchain-based shared ledger

The network also wants its system to be compatible with more modern digital finance rails such as stablecoins

🟠 Circle backs CV VC’s $20M African Blockchain Fund

Plus: 🌍 USDC-issuer Circle backs CV VC’s $20M African Blockchain Fund 🇳🇬 Experts call Nigeria’s crypto tax regime “progressive”

Experts call Nigeria’s crypto tax regime “progressive”

At a series of Mariblock webinars last week, experts in tax and digital assets said the new tax laws put a stamp on the legitimacy of the sector.

USDC-issuer Circle backs CV VC’s $20M African Blockchain Fund

Circle joins the Swiss-based venture capital firm to invest in early-stage African blockchain companies over a period of ten years from 2022.

🟠 New law: Crypto taxes and penalties arrive in Nigeria in 2026

Plus: 🌍 Coinbase-backed Onboard 3.0 attracts 10k users two months after launch; 🇳🇬 Kredete raises $22 million to fuel expansion efforts

Nigeria set to tax individual crypto transactions and exchanges in 2026

Individual crypto transactions will now be subjected to a maximum of 25% personal income tax on profit made.

Coinbase-backed Onboard 3.0 attracts 10k users two months after launch

In July, Onboard announced a new iteration of its platform — an all-in-one app to receive and manage payments in both crypto and fiat.

Kredete raises $22 million to fuel expansion efforts

The firm wants to launch a host of new products and expand into new markets.

Bitcoin mining set to power Ethiopia’s energy expansion

Ethiopia just inaugurated Africa’s largest dam, doubling power output — but still lacks the funds to deliver universal electricity access.

🟠 Sub-Saharan Africa emerges as third-largest crypto market globally

Plus: Mariblock Roundtable; 🇿🇦 South Africa’s Altvest to raise $210 million for Bitcoin treasury reserve

Sub-Saharan Africa now the third-fastest-growing crypto region, Chainalysis

Nigeria led the region with $92.1 billion in value received over the 12-month period, nearly three times that of South Africa.

🟠 What “OnChain” actually means — and why it matters for Africa

The OnChain Conference 2025 brings together Africa’s blockchain builders, regulators, and business leaders for two days of focused discussion on the operational realities of building onchain systems.

AFAN’s blockchain partnership sparks concerns over Tingo connection

The company has not clarified whether it operates independently from the entities involved in the Tingo SEC fraud case.

Luno expands access to tokenized US stocks to Nigeria

Nigerians can now invest as little as ₦100 in stocks of companies such as Apple, Meta and NVIDIA through Backed Finance-owned xStocks.

Mariblock Roundtable: Are local stablecoins the next big wave in crypto?

The discussion featured representatives from traditional investment platform Risevest alongside cNGN’s technical team.

South Africa’s Altvest to raise $210 million for Bitcoin treasury reserve

The Johannesburg-based firm will rename itself Africa Bitcoin Corp. and hold the cryptocurrency on its balance sheet.

Ripple brings stablecoin RLUSD to Africa in partnership with Chipper Cash, VALR, Yellow Card

Ripple described Africa as a “natural next step” for RLUSD, citing increasing demand among businesses worldwide.

Superteam Nigeria: Inside Solana’s community-led adoption strategy in Nigeria

The community has incubated several notable projects, including cross-border remittance platform Ribh Finance and WhatsApp-based on- and off-ramp product Azza.

Mastercard expands partnership with Circle to enable stablecoin settlements in EEMEA

The two companies have already partnered on crypto card solutions with Bybit and S1LKPAY, which use USDC to settle transactions.

Nigeria leads stablecoin adoption with $22 billion in transactions

According to the study, stablecoins accounted for 43% of total crypto transaction volume in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.

INTERPOL-led operation in Africa recovers $97 million

The operation ran from June to August 2025 and brought together investigators from 18 African countries and the United Kingdom.

South Africa to introduce cross-border crypto framework in 2025

It will set parameters, conditions, administrative responsibilities, and reporting requirements for cross-border crypto transactions.

Ethiopia halts new crypto mining permits as power capacity reaches limit

This comes after the East African nation generated $55 million from Bitcoin mining over a 10-month period in 2024, primarily through agreements with 25 mining companies.

Stablecoin flows in Africa hit 6.7% of GDP in 2024 – IMF

Only Latin America and the Caribbean (7.7%) surpassed Africa in flows relative to GDP.

HoneyCoin secures $4.9M in seed funding for stablecoin-focused payment platform

The company announced that the new capital will be used to accelerate HoneyCoin’s scaling plans, expand its product suite, hire senior talent and strengthen compliance and licensing capabilities.

Top 5 sites to convert BTC to naira

This is partner-submitted content and reflects the views of the contributor.

Western Union is working on stablecoin settlement systems in Africa — CEO

The tradFi giant sees stablecoins as an opportunity to innovate rather than as a threat, CEO Devin McGranahan said.

Xend Finance users can now invest in tokenized U.S. assets via Risevest — but regulation limits access across Africa

The partnership will allow Xend Finance’s users earn yields from investments in US stock market options and RWAs through Risevest

Zap announces major rebrand

The rebrand also coincides with a trademark dispute involving fintech giant Paystack, which recently launched a product under the same name, “Zap.”

Kaleo Ventures backs Cr3dentials’ decentralized income tool

The capital injection is to help Cr3dentials raise revenue and solidify its upcoming pilot programs.

Crypto theft soared to all-time high in H1 2025 – Chainalysis

Spurred by the unprecedented hack of global exchange Bybit earlier in the year, crypto crime is on par to eclipse recorded volume.

DR Congo launches blockchain-based platform for diploma verification

The e-Diplôme platform is designed to reduce fraud by helping to verify government-issued diplomas in real-time.

Bank of Ghana asks VASPs to register as regulations ramp up

The BoG says it is merely looking to identify VASPs and not to issue a license just yet.

🟠 cNGN unlocks Nigeria’s short‑term debt with 21% returns

Plus: Mariblock’s OnChain Conference; 🇹🇿 Tether makes a move in Zanzibar; 🇰🇪 Luno re-enters Kenya

The African blockchain funding scene: More deals, less dollars

Nigeria saw the most deals done, but Seychelles maintained top spot in terms of deal value.

Tether expands African blockchain education initiative with Zanzibar partnership

The USDT issuer also wants to integrate USDT and XAUT into Zanzibar’s local payments system, ZanMalipo.

Xend Finance is enabling cNGN-powered investments in the Nigerian money market

CEO Ugo Aronu says the feature will provide a platform to attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria

Sidebar: How governments can solve blockchain problems in Africa — Web3Bridge founder

Ayodeji Awosika, founder of Web3Bridge, believes that 70% of Nigeria’s problems can be solved if the government steps up to fix just education, infrastructure, and travel policies.

Luno re-enters Kenyan market after decade-long hiatus

Kenyans can now trade BTC, ETH, USDT and USDC with the Kenyan shilling on the exchange

PAPSS rolls out blockchain platform for African fiat exchange

Interstellar says 19 countries and several multinationals now use the African currency marketplace for cross-border transactions.

Kenya set to scrap 3% digital asset tax after crypto lobbyist efforts

Kenyan crypto stakeholders joined together and enlisted PwC to add credibility to their submission for DAT’s scrap to the parliament.

Mariblock announces OnChain Conference — with Busha as founding partner

OnChain 2025 will explore core themes, including stablecoins, payments, FX, tokenized real-world assets, regulatory clarity, the business case for blockchain and talent pipelines.

Visa expands stablecoin strategy into Africa with Yellow Card partnership

Both firms plan to explore opportunities to drive stablecoin adoption in treasury management and cross-border payments across markets where Yellow Card is regulated.

Blockchain enters the spaza shop: LovCash, Lisk and a major FMCG want to digitize informal trade

LovCash has deployed its platform on Lisk’s blockchain infrastructure to digitize transactions within the informal FMCG trade in South Africa.

🟠 USDC issuer Circle bets on African builders

Plus: 🇰🇪 31% of Kenyan banks are warming up to crypto — CBK

Empowa expands blockchain housing model to Nigeria

The firm is also seeking for the listing of its native token EMP on Nigerian local crypto exchanges.

Bank of Ghana warns against Yellow Pay, Yellow Card responds

BoG claims Yellow Pay is offering digital payment services, crypto trading, and stablecoin-based remittances without proper licensing.

Circle selects five African projects in latest USDC grants round

The cohort marks Africa’s strongest showing yet — and comes as ecosystem grants increasingly serve as early-stage capital for blockchain startups navigating a tougher post-FTX funding climate.

31% of Kenyan banks are warming up to crypto — CBK

According to the CBK, banks highlighted that crypto and NFTs offer alternative avenues for payments and investments, with the potential to boost transaction speed and lower costs.

🟠 Uber eyes stablecoins for cheaper global payments

Plus: 🌍 Big on wallets, light on volume: Africa’s crypto paradox; 🌍 UK-based crypto exchange Blockchain.com to expand into Africa; 🇨🇫 CAR to tokenize 1,700 hectares of land using meme coin

Blockradar wins Crypto Valley Startup Competition 2025

The company stood out among 11 international crypto startups, securing $1.2 million in soft commitment funding along with additional prizes.

Sidebar: Coinbase’s four-step plan for African builders

Damilare Aregbesola, Coinbase’s new West Africa lead, wants to help African builders go beyond hackathons — unlocking funding, mentorship and real distribution paths to global success.

CAR to tokenize 1,700 hectares of land using meme coin

Touadéra announced that over 1,700 hectares of land in the region will be tokenized through the controversial Solana-based meme coin CAR.

🟠 PwC advises Kenyan crypto firms on tax lobby

Plus: 🌍 Stripe goes global with stablecoins but skips Africa’s big four 🇳🇬 Crypto is legal in Nigeria — until the bank disagrees

UK-based crypto exchange Blockchain.com to expand into Africa

Blockchain.com has already began the process to set up a physical space in Nigeria while it looks to secure licenses in three other countries as well.

Big on wallets, light on volume: Africa’s crypto paradox

Africa is seeing high crypto wallet adoption, but actual usage and value remain limited. Experts say economic realities, short-term utility and product gaps help explain the disconnect.

Crypto is legal in Nigeria — until the bank disagrees

Nigerian banks continue to flag accounts interacting with cryptocurrencies; arrests haven’t stopped, and confusion persists over what the law actually changed.

PwC lends weight to crypto lobby against Kenya’s digital asset tax

The coalition is pushing to scrap Kenya’s now-revised 1.5% crypto transfer tax, calling it unfair, innovation-stifling, and out of step with global norms.

Stripe goes global with stablecoins — but skips Africa’s big four

Previously, Stripe could only serve 46 countries. Now, the firm’s product is available in more than 100 countries excluding Africa’s big four.

🟠 Nigeria plans new blockchain policy. Again.

Plus: 🌍 Btrust grants $1M to ten Bitcoin-focused events and developer education programs; 🇰🇪 VACC hosts crypto training session for Kenyan lawmakers

South African court rules that crypto is not subject to exchange control regulations

According to Judge M. P Motha, crypto is not money, and the scope of current regulations do not define crypto as capital.

Sidebar: Why Africa needs its own stablecoins — Paycrest Co-founder

From Naira-backed cNGN to emerging tokens across Africa, Amadi explains how these assets, if regulated and widely accepted, could enable fast, legal, and dollar-free transactions across borders.

VACC hosts crypto training session for Kenyan lawmakers

The training session, supported by Binance, looked to help the regulators gain hands-on experience on the workings of digital assets before passing regulations.

Quidax’s CEO Okoro appeals for global collaboration to grow Africa’s crypto ecosystem

Okoro, who spoke at Coindesk’s Consensus 2025, said Africa’s crypto potential will remain locked unless global stakeholders partner with local ones.

Nigeria plans to develop new blockchain policy, again

Two years ago, the country launched a blockchain policy, which it has not implemented yet. Now, it is ditching the document in favor of a new policy.

Btrust grants $1M to ten Bitcoin-focused events and developer education programs

The Jack Dorsey-founded nonprofit awarded these grants to four African Bitcoin events and conferences of the ten beneficiaries.

🟠 50th Mariblock Weekly 🎉

Plus: 🌍 One big thing: 90% of institutional players involved with stablecoins; 🌍 Mastercard to enable stablecoin card transactions with Moonpay partnership;📱 MiniPay now available as a standalone app on iOS devices

Mastercard to enable stablecoin card transactions with Moonpay partnership

Holders of Mastercard-issued cards will be able to conduct transactions directly with their stablecoin balances

MiniPay now available as a standalone app on iOS devices

The stablecoin wallet app wants to expand access to more users globally

Egypt-based football club Al Ahly joins FIFA’s NFT marketplace

Al Ahly Football Club becomes the first African football club to join FIFA Collect

Zimbabwe launches blockchain-based carbon credits trading registry

The country wants to establish trust by making all transactions immutable and transparent.

🟠 Stablecoins surpass Visa in global payment volume

Plus: 🇳🇬 Nigerian fintechs embrace blockchain for POS payments 🇳🇬 Zap Africa is rebuilding crypto trust in Nigeria — while fighting to protect its name

Zap Africa is rebuilding crypto trust in Nigeria — while fighting to protect its name

The startup offers non-custodial swaps, is developing its own wallet, and believes user control is key to adoption.

Nigerian fintech Accelerex and ITEX join Zone’s blockchain network

The integration of the blockchain network will help both firms settle transactions instantly and eliminate failures

Kenyan court orders Worldcoin to delete all biometric data

Justice Rosen Abili ordered the Sam Altman-founded company to delete all the data it had collected.

Stablecoins grossed more transaction volume than Visa in 2024 — Report

Bitwise says data shows more institutions and businesses are turning to stablecoins

🟠 Kenyan crypto stakeholders unite to lobby against digital asset tax

Plus: 🇰🇪 Nairobi Securities Exchange to launch digital platform to trade tokenized real-world assets

Nairobi Securities Exchange to launch digital platform to trade tokenized real-world assets

The Kenya Digital Exchange (KDX), designed in partnership with DeFi Technologies, is set to launch before the end of the year.

Scoop: Kenyan crypto players mount lobbying push against asset tax

A coalition of VASPs is mobilizing to lobby against the proposed tax law, seeking support from global tax experts to bolster its efforts.

🟠 Circle teams up with Flutterwave, Yellow Card to power stablecoin payments

Plus: 🇬🇭 Bank of Ghana plans crypto regulations by September; 🇿🇦 Binance tightens rules for South African users

Bank of Ghana says crypto regulations will go live by September

Ghana’s apex bank plans to establish a special crypto task force to enforce new crypto rules once they are passed

Circle launches stablecoin payment system in partnership with Flutterwave and Yellow Card

African crypto firm Yellow Card and fintechs Flutterwave and Onafriq are among the Circle Payment Network’s inaugural partners

At Paris Blockchain Week, institutions showed up. Africa didn’t

Reflections from Paris Blockchain Week: institutional momentum, real-world utility, and why African builders must be part of the global conversation.

Binance adopts stricter South Africa crypto policies

The exchange is complying with the FIC’s directive to implement the FATF’s Travel Rule by April 30.

🟠 Nigeria delays more crypto licenses — here’s why

Plus: 🇳🇬 Nigerian blockchain startups raised $20M in 2024, claims 3% of global developers — Report; 🇳🇬🇰🇪 CBEX collapse leaves trail of victims across Nigeria and Kenya; 🌍 “Africa is the region that needs stablecoins the most,” Blockradar co-founder

Sidebar: “Africa is the region that needs stablecoins the most,” Blockradar co-founder

Blockradar’s COO, Morgan Williams, explains how stablecoins are reshaping payments, remittances, and financial access across Africa.

Nigeria’s SEC needs more ‘due diligence’ before approving more crypto licenses - DG

Since it granted temporary approvals to Quidax and Busha last year, the agency has hesitated to grant licenses to more crypto firms.

CBEX promised 100% returns—now Nigerians and Kenyans are counting their losses

The scam entity, rumored to be part of a larger crypto crime ring carted away millions of dollars from its victims in Nigeria and Kenya

Blockradar appoints ex-Coinbase operations lead Morgan Williams as COO

Morgan Williams joins Blockradar’s founder, Abdulfatai Suleiman as co-founder in running the startup's affairs.

Nigerian blockchain startups raised $20M in 2024, claims 3% of global developers — Report

The report dubbed the Nigeria Web3 Landscape Report says 3% of global blockchain developers are in Nigeria.