Mariblock

Mariblock Weekly

🟠 M-Pesa meets blockchain

Plus: 🇬🇭 Ghana brings crypto into its regulatory perimeter with a new VASP law; 🇿🇦 South Africa’s central bank says CBDCs matter — just not right now

Ogechi Nelson

Dec 26, 2025

Payment rails

Binance launches crypto accounts for kids and teenagers

Parents maintain full control of these accounts designed to teach crypto and financial literacy to children aged 17 and under.

Sam Adeyemo

Dec 4, 2025

CBDC

CBDCs are useful but are not an immediate priority — SARB

The bank sees no need to deploy a retail CBDC anytime soon, but it will explore wholesale options.

Sam Adeyemo

Dec 2, 2025

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is South Africa’s most preferred crypto asset — SARB report

Governor Lesetja Kganyago of The South African Reserve Bank

Adoption is on the rise, but with increased adoption comes financial stability risks that the bank is now looking to counteract.

Sam Adeyemo

Dec 1, 2025

Regulation

South Africa reiterates crypto and stablecoin risks amid rising use

SARB said the absence of a complete regulatory framework for crypto assets and stablecoins remains a key vulnerability in South Africa’s financial system.

Ogechi Nelson

Nov 26, 2025

Cross-border payments

AfCFTA launches blockchain-powered platform to ease intra-African trade

ADAPT, built in partnership with IOTA and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, will allow users to settle trades in local currencies and stablecoins.

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 26, 2025

Builder

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

An editorial collage of Luno mobile app and Discover Bank office in South Africa.

Users can track crypto and fiat balances on one platform and seamlessly move funds between their Luno wallets and fiat accounts.

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 20, 2025

Mariblock Weekly

🟠 A new South African stablecoin is now live on Luno

Plus: 🌍 Here’s why Flutterwave is enabling stablecoin payments via Polygon

Ogechi Nelson

Nov 20, 2025

Stablecoin

Flutterwave CEO lays out the company’s stablecoin play — and why Polygon fits the plan

Olugbenga Agboola said rising demand from clients and suppliers already using stablecoins pushed Flutterwave to build payment flows that match how people are transacting today.

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 18, 2025

Stablecoin

New South African stablecoin goes live on Luno

An image of a five South African rand palced over a 20 rand note.

Dubbed the ZAR Supercoin, the stablecoin designed and developed by New York-listed Super Group, is backed by cash reserves in Absa bank.

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 14, 2025

Mariblock Weekly

🟠 Why Yellow Card shuttered its retail business

Plus: 🇿🇦 USD stablecoins can undermine African monetary sovereignty — SARB Governor

Ogechi Nelson

Nov 13, 2025

Stablecoin

Why Yellow Card shuttered its retail business

Yellow Card told Mariblock that the decision was driven by strong, growing demand for stablecoin-fiat payment services.

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 12, 2025

Policy

USD stablecoins can undermine African monetary sovereignty — SARB Governor

Lesetja Kganyago says he is unconvinced by the supposed stability of USD-pegged stablecoins and believes their backing can be called into question

Sam Adeyemo

Nov 11, 2025

Mariblock Weekly

🟠 Flutterwave jumps on the stablecoin train

Plus: 🇳🇬 Nigerians prefer crypto investments and gambling to the capital market — SEC DG

Ogechi Nelson

Nov 5, 2025

Stablecoin

Flutterwave taps Polygon for stablecoin-powered cross-border payments

While the full rollout is scheduled for 2026, a pilot program of the product feature is expected to run its course before the end of the year.

Sam Adeyemo

Oct 31, 2025

ANALYSIS

State of fiat

ANALYSIS

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.