Crypto regulations, policy updates, licensing frameworks, and compliance news from central banks and financial authorities across African markets.
TL:DR, The Paxful shutdown affects 14 million users in 140+ countries; withdraw funds before November 1, 2025 to avoid losing access. Closure stems from historic misconduct by former executives plus mounting legal and compliance remediation costs that made operations unsustainable. The exchange’s collapse was caused by massive legal and compliance costs stemming from…
TL:DR, Kenya VASP Bill clears third reading; existing providers get six months to apply, with VASP fines up to $154,000 and individuals facing up to 10 years. The bill establishes a “twin-pillar” regulatory model, appointing the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Capital Markets Authority (CMA) as joint regulators to oversee all crypto…
TL;DR, The CBN compliance department launched in Q1 2025 addresses Nigeria’s 45% surge in fraud incidents and $2 million in flagged suspicious cryptocurrency transactions through specialized financial crime supervision. Nigeria’s Central Bank restructured its regulatory framework to tackle cybersecurity vulnerabilities and digital asset risks through dedicated compliance oversight across all financial institutions. CBN mandates ISO…
South Africa rejects exchange control exemption for SARB-led crypto framework after Judge Motha rules “cryptocurrency is not money.” Financial Regulators Steering Committee establishes CASP cross-border reporting closing 1961 Exchange Control loopholes. FICA subjects Luno, VALR, Binance to AML/CFT/CPF as Luno flags onshore/offshore gap hindering institutional adoption. Framework resolves “money” vs “capital” dichotomy within year
Algeria declares war on crypto: Finance Law 2024 bans trading, mining, possession, promotion, everything. Article 31 BIS delivers 2-12 month prison terms and $3,700-$14,700 fines to protect the Dinar. Irony? Algeria ranks top 10 MENA for crypto volume yet moves opposite Morocco (now pro-adoption) and Nigeria (legalizing assets). The ban transforms digital assets from grey area to criminal offense. Africa’s crypto map fractures: adoption, restriction, or wait-and-see. Algeria chose isolation.
FIRS launches VAT portal as Nigeria’s $59 billion crypto ecosystem faces Transaction Monitoring System requiring real-time API integration for banks, fintechs, PSPs like PayStack and Flutterwave. Non-residents earning over $25,000 annually must register and remit VAT targeting $4.6 billion digital economy. Crypto on/off-ramps, cNGN/USDT exchanges, wallet providers with fiat conversion now taxable. Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji: “Transformative leap in transaction visibility.” Penalties under Tax Administration Act Sections 71 & 103: $652 (₦1M) + $6.5 (₦10k) daily non-compliance fines.
Nigeria’s cNGN stablecoin cracked regulatory approval through year-long SEC collaboration, choosing “collaboration over confrontation.” Built on Bantu Chain and interoperable across Ethereum, Polygon, and Base, cNGN exploded from 4,400 to 300M tokens, powering DeFi, escrow, and lending apps on Quidax, Busha, and Xend Finance. As Africa Stablecoin Consortium’s blueprint, cNGN mentors future regulated stablecoins across the continent.
Nigeria’s $59B crypto economy collides with IMF reality check: fragmented oversight fuels capital flight, FX instability, and record fraud (1,056% above global baseline). Top 3 in adoption, #1 in scams, 43% of volume flows through stablecoins outside formal channels. Despite SEC initiatives like cNGN and VASP rules, piecemeal reforms falter. IMF’s prescription: unified, enforceable frameworks aligned with global AML/CFT standards or face macroeconomic disaster.
Ghana’s VASP registration deadline separates compliant crypto firms from the rest, but registration grants zero operating rights. It’s purely assessment, identifying exchanges, wallets, stablecoin platforms before BoG rolls out full licensing. Miss it? Face sanctions and permanent disqualification. Amid surging West African adoption and scam revivals, BoG maps the ecosystem to design FATF-aligned AML rules. Registration doesn’t mean approval; it means survival. Ghana challenges Nigeria.
Kenya’s VASP bill withdrawn after suspicious amendments threatened $100.7M crypto ecosystem with regulatory capture and monopolistic stablecoin controls. Muthoni Njogu identified governance gaps: insufficient board expertise standards, political appointment concentration, Virtual Assets Chamber of Commerce board seat conflict. Last-minute clause mandating fiat conversions exclusively through licensed Kenya Shilling stablecoin issuer sparked ecosystem manipulation fears. AfDB’s Adesina warns “state capture undermines growth” as East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda) watches Kenya’s regulatory integrity crisis.
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