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
Dec 26, 2025
Policy & regulation
Regulatory frameworks, compliance regimes and government policy shaping digital finance across Africa.
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.
Dec 2, 2025
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is South Africa’s most preferred crypto asset — SARB report
Adoption is on the rise, but with increased adoption comes financial stability risks that the bank is now looking to counteract.
Dec 1, 2025
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.
Nov 28, 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.
Nov 26, 2025
Regulation
Morocco publishes proposed rules to regulate cryptocurrency
The new rules establish a licensing regime for VASPs and bring them under the purview of BAM and AMMC
Nov 25, 2025
Mariblock Weekly
🟠 Why Yellow Card shuttered its retail business
Plus: 🇿🇦 USD stablecoins can undermine African monetary sovereignty — SARB Governor
Nov 13, 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
Nov 11, 2025
Mariblock Weekly
🟠 Flutterwave jumps on the stablecoin train
Plus: 🇳🇬 Nigerians prefer crypto investments and gambling to the capital market — SEC DG
Nov 5, 2025
Regulation
Nigerians prefer crypto investments and gambling to the capital market — SEC DG
Emomotimi Agama said the country is missing out on substantial investments because Nigerians avoid investing in the Nigerian capital market.
Nov 4, 2025
Mariblock Weekly
🟠 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
Oct 30, 2025
Regulation
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.
Oct 29, 2025
State of fiat
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
Oct 27, 2025
ANALYSIS
State of fiat
ANALYSISUnlocking 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.
Oct 23, 2025
Stablecoin
Africa moved $54 billion in stablecoins; now what?
Despite these impressive figures, there is a huge policy vacuum sitting between potential and scale.
Oct 21, 2025
Regulation
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.
Oct 10, 2025
Litigation
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
Oct 8, 2025
Mariblock Weekly
🟠 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”
Oct 3, 2025
ANALYSIS
Policy
ANALYSISExperts call Nigeria’s crypto tax regime “progressive”
At a Mariblock webinar last week, tax and digital asset experts said the new laws mark a turning point for the sector’s legitimacy.
Sep 30, 2025
Mariblock Weekly
🟠 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
Sep 24, 2025