BitcoinKE

Payment processing provider, Ozow, has announced the official integration of cryptocurrency as a primary payment solution on its platform. This move allows merchants to tap into the growing digital economy by enabling customers to pay for goods and services directly from their crypto wallets.

Ozow has officially launched Crypto Payments!

Merchants can now accept payments from crypto wallets, including Bitcoin Lightning and exchanges like Luno, VALR, and Binance via a single Ozow integration.

Powered by @MoneyBadgerPay

Find out more: https://t.co/Sm2OF4MiLV pic.twitter.com/pe1gtyhF23

— Ozow (@OzowPay) January 28, 2026

Powered by MoneyBadger, South Africa’s Bitcoin-centric payments technology provider, this new offering allows customers to pay directly from their crypto wallets, including Bitcoin Lightning and major exchange wallets such as Luno, VALR and Binance, with instant settlement in South African Rand.

FUNDING | South African Bitcoin & Crypto Payments Solutions Provider, MoneyBadger, Raises $400,000 in Pre-Seed Funding

By adding crypto to its existing suite of

Pay by Bank, Card

Vouchers

Payouts and Refunds, and

PayShap solutions,

Ozow provides a single, unified integration for merchants to access every major way to pay in South Africa.

The shift toward crypto as a transactional currency is accelerating in South Africa.

Recent market data highlights a significant appetite for real-world crypto utility:

There are currently over 6 million registered crypto exchange users in South Africa looking for avenues to spend their digital assets.

A recent co-marketing case study between Luno and Pick n Pay, which integrated with MoneyBadger in 2022, demonstrated a threefold increase in customers using crypto for everyday purchases when presented with clear value and a frictionless experience.

Crypto payments are no longer restricted to niche tech circles; they are being driven by diverse segments, including global travellers avoiding high exchange fees, remote workers receiving salaries in digital assets, and a future-forward generation of Gen Z and Millennial consumers.

EXPERT ANALYSIS | ‘Online Retail Will Reach 10% of All Retail in 2026,’ Say Payment and Logistics Experts in South Africa

“Our mission has always been to simplify the way South Africans pay and get paid, and the introduction of crypto is a natural extension of that commitment to financial enablement. It is also just the start of our journey into digital assets,” said Rachel Cowan, interim CEO of Ozow.

“By bridging the gap between digital assets and everyday utility, we are providing consumers with greater choice and flexibility in how they interact with the digital economy. For our merchants, this is about more than just a new payment method; it is about providing them with a frictionless gateway to a global, tech-forward market, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of the evolving financial landscape while maintaining the simplicity and security they expect from our ecosystem,” said Cowan.

 

For merchants, the integration offers a high-value customer segment without the traditional hurdles of digital asset management. 

Ozow and MoneyBadger handle the complexity of the transaction, ensuring zero volatility risk by instantly converting crypto to South African Rand. Ozow merchants can instantly enable crypto payments without any additional integration required.

Furthermore, crypto processing is often more cost-effective than traditional credit card fees, allowing businesses to preserve higher margins while offering a modern brand identity that aligns with global fintech trends.

MILESTONE | South African Retailer, Pick n Pay, Surpasses Over One Million Rand (~$55,000) a Month in Crypto Payments

“Like Ozow, digital token payments represent advantages to merchants like reduced fraud rates and access to a growing market of tech-savvy consumers that are already saving and spending digital currencies like Bitcoin,” according to MoneyBadger CEO, Carel van Wyk. 

“By working with Ozow, we are making it safe and simple for business owners to offer greater choice in payment options to their customers and stay ahead of the curve.”

 

For consumers, the process is as simple as scanning a QR code or selecting the Crypto option at an online checkout. Transactions are secured by biometric authentication and TLS encryption, providing a level of security that often surpasses traditional physical payment methods.

“This integration signals a major step toward the mainstream adoption of digital assets in the retail and e-commerce sectors,” said Cowan.

PRESS RELEASE | Scan to Pay Enables Direct Crypto Payments Through MoneyBadger Integration to Over 650,000 Merchants in South Africa

 

__________

About Ozow

Ozow is a leading South African fintech company transforming the way consumers and businesses transact through innovative, seamless, and secure payment solutions. Founded in 2014, Ozow specialises in real-time digital payments, offering a range of products including Pay by Bank, Card Payments, PayShap Request, Instant Refunds, Payouts, and Cash Vouchers.

Trusted by South Africa’s biggest brands, Ozow enables millions of South Africans to transact effortlessly, helping merchants unlock growth, reduce friction at checkout, and improve financial accessibility.

Ozow is a licensed System Operator and Third-Party Payment Provider with the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and is fully compliant with industry regulations. 

For more information, visit www.ozow.com 

South Africa’s Crypto-Friendly Payment Platform, Ozow, Raises $48 Million Led by China’s Tencent

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the African crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

 

Mukuru, a leading next-generation financial services platform, has been certified as a Top Employer 2026 in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This achievement places Mukuru among Africa’s most progressive workplaces and demonstrates that local companies can meet global standards in employee practices while advancing financial inclusion in their markets. It also highlights how a strong culture and empowered teams are key to achieving sustainable growth led by technology.

This is Mukuru’s third consecutive Top Employer certification in South Africa and its second in Zimbabwe, making it the first financial services and technology company in Zimbabwe to receive this honour. The Top Employers Institute evaluates organisations based on their people strategy, culture, talent development, diversity, well-being, and leadership. The certification comes after a detailed assessment against international standards.

FINCLUSION | How South Africa’s Oldest Fintech, Mukuru, Leverages Data to Drive Financial Inclusion

Mukuru’s recognition reflects positive results within its workforce, such as lower turnover, quicker hiring, stronger performance, and improved well-being indicators. Its recruitment approach relies on structured data and behavioural insights, earning global recognition and featuring Mukuru’s practices on the Top Employers Institute’s knowledge hub.

 

“These accolades confirm the daily experience of our people,” said Andy Jury, CEO of Mukuru.

“In fast-changing markets, success relies on teams that feel supported and empowered. Culture is part of strategy; it drives impact at scale.”

 

“Being a Top Employer reflects how people experience leadership, growth, and belonging every day,” added Savina Harrilall, Chief People Officer.

“Our teams in South Africa and Zimbabwe have created a culture that is both high-performing and human, and this recognition reflects their contribution.”

 

The dual-country certification highlights Mukuru’s ability to use global standards in a relevant way for local markets. This is essential for organisations working across diverse African countries. It also strengthens Mukuru’s employer brand with employees, partners, and stakeholders, reinforcing its long-term commitment to building inclusive workplaces that promote growth and innovation.

Mukuru’s employer excellence comes at a time of expanding product and market innovation across its platforms. In November 2025, Mukuru announced a strategic partnership with VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, to introduce a USDC (USD-backed stablecoin) wallet to millions of users across the continent. Through this collaboration, accessible via Mukuru’s WhatsApp platform, customers can purchase, hold, and sell USDC, offering a regulated digital savings and value-preservation option in economies facing currency volatility — a move that complements the company’s mission to broaden financial access and inclusion.

PRESS RELEASE | VALR and Mukuru Partner to Advance USDC Stablecoin Savings in Africa

Andy Jury noted that the VALR partnership “is a clear step forward in our strategy to enable Africa’s emerging consumers to send, store, and spend value seamlessly,” reflecting Mukuru’s evolution beyond traditional remittances into broader financial services.

As Mukuru expands across the continent, investing in people and innovative financial solutions remains central to its strategy. This focus ensures resilience, performance, and significant impact for customers, employees, and the wider fintech ecosystem.

REGULATION | South African Remittance Fintech, Mukuru, Granted Deposit License in Zimbabwe, Targets Rural Population

 

 

Sign up for BitKE Alerts for the latest fintech and crypto updates from across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

After nearly two decades of limited service, global payments giant, PayPal, has re-entered Nigeria’s digital economy, not with a flashy standalone launch, but through a strategic partnership with local fintech, Paga, that finally unlocks inbound international payments for Nigerians.

Under the integration announced in January 2026, Nigerians can now link their PayPal accounts directly to Paga wallets, receive payments from PayPal’s global network in over 200 markets, and withdraw funds locally in Naira for spending, transfers, and other day-to-day needs.

Businesses and creators can also connect their PayPal merchant profiles to Paga for global receipts and faster local settlement.

FINTECH AFRICA | PayPal Plans Wallet-to-Wallet Payments in Africa With PayPal World Using Local Payment Systems

Connecting the Crypto Angle

PayPal’s earlier years in Nigeria were marked by strict restrictions that allowed outbound payments but not inbound balance reception, a limitation that kept Nigerian freelancers, SMEs, and global sellers on the sidelines of critical earnings. This re-entry closes that gap.

Paga’s role is strategic: its deep local rails, regulatory compliance, digital wallet reach, and settlement network give PayPal a ready-built infrastructure to scale cross-border inflows in a way that wasn’t feasible two decades ago.

 

While today’s headlines focus on payments, a parallel shift on the crypto front underscores PayPal’s evolving playbook:

 

1.) PYUSD Stablecoin – Digital Dollars for the Mainstream

PayPal launched its own U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin PYUSD in 2023, a bridge between traditional payments and on-chain value. It’s fully integrated into PayPal and Venmo, backed 1:1 by USD reserves and regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Unlike niche tokens, PYUSD is designed first for payments, not speculation, making it a core part of PayPal’s vision for digital commerce and cross-border value movement.

LAUNCH | PayPal Launches Dollar-Backed Stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), on the Ethereum Blockchain

2.) Doubling Down on Growth

Throughout 2025, PYUSD’s market cap surpassed $1 billion, doubling from earlier in the year, a milestone that reflects renewed usage and strategic integrations rather than purely incentive-driven demand.

PayPal has also expanded PYUSD’s reach, bringing it to multiple blockchains via cross-chain solutions and partnerships, a move that aims to reduce friction and cost in global settlements especially relevant for remittances and commerce in markets like Africa.

MILESTONE | PayPal’s PYUSD Stablecoin Surpasses $1 Billion Market Capitalization – Doubling Since Start of 2025

3.) Payments + Crypto, a Two-Track Approach

PayPal’s broader strategy is clear:

Payments at scale: Enable billions of users and millions of merchants to transact globally.

Crypto rails for liquidity: Use PYUSD and other token integrations to improve the speed and cost of value flows beyond legacy banking corridors.

This dual engine positions PayPal to compete not just with traditional remittance players, but with emerging blockchain-powered finance stacks in Africa where crypto, stablecoins, and fintech partnerships are already reshaping how people send, receive, and store value.

PayPal Pushes Crypto, Stablecoin Payments into the Mainstream, Cutting Costs and Expanding Global Commerce

For Nigeria, the implications are multi-layered:

Freelancers and SMEs now have a direct route to access global payers without complex workarounds.

Cross-border commerce becomes more frictionless, potentially boosting exports of digital services.

Stablecoin readiness: As digital assets like PYUSD mature, Nigerian users and platforms could leverage stablecoins for cheaper remittances, hedging currency risk, and programmable use cases in DeFi or payments.

Ecosystem signal: A major player like PayPal partnering with a local fintech underscores Africa’s rising financial sophistication and regulatory viability.

 

PayPal’s move into Nigeria via Paga is more than a payments relic returning home, it’s a statement of intent. It reveals how legacy platforms are blending traditional rails with crypto-native tools to remain relevant in markets where consumers and businesses increasingly expect fast, borderless, and digital money movement.

For Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, this moment is both validation and invitation: build, integrate, and innovate around payments, crypto, and the digital economy because the global players are coming with deeper stacks than ever before.

FINTECH AFRICA | Why Use PayPal in the Age of Crypto? Frustrated Users Propose African Alternatives

 

 

Sign up for BitKE updates for the latest crypto updates from across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_______________________________

Nigeria’s government has sharply increased revenue from digital payments, and regulators are now extending that tax regime to cryptocurrency withdrawals, a clear signal that Africa’s largest crypto market is firmly on the fiscal radar.

According to official data, collections from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), a fee applied to qualifying digital transfers, rose to about $276 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up from roughly $133 million over the same period in 2024.

That represents more than a 100% year-on-year increase.

The levy, now reclassified as stamp duty under Nigeria’s 2025 Tax Act, has become a predictable revenue stream for the federal government, which projects annual collections could exceed $321 million from 2026 onward.

TAXATION | How Kenya Collects More Taxes than Nigeria

Expanding the Tax Net to Crypto

Previously limited to bank and fintech transactions, the stamp duty regime has now been extended to crypto-to-fiat withdrawals, effectively closing a gap that allowed digital asset activity to operate outside direct transaction-level taxation.

Several Nigerian crypto platforms, including Quidax, Palremit, and JuicyWay, have notified users that a $0.04 stamp duty will apply to eligible Naira withdrawals beginning in early 2026.

FUNDING | Nigerian Fintech, JuicyWay, Raises $3 Million to Provide FX Exchange Using Stablecoins

Some platforms are also bundling the levy with additional service charges and VAT, pushing total withdrawal costs slightly higher for users.

Quidax has emphasized that the stamp duty is a government-mandated tax, not a platform fee.

REGULATION | KuCoin to Charge 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on Crypto Transactions in Nigeria Following ‘An Important Regulatory Update’

While a four-cent charge per withdrawal may appear insignificant, its implications are broader:

High-frequency traders and P2P merchants operating on thin margins may adjust their behavior or move off centralized platforms.

Long-term users view the fee as marginal compared to volatility or on-chain transaction costs.

A few platforms, such as Tirra (formerly Azawire), are temporarily absorbing the tax to remain competitive — a move that pressures already narrow margins.

 

Crypto is Now Fully Inside Nigeria’s Tax Framework

The withdrawal levy is part of a broader regulatory push. Under the 2025 Tax Act:

Crypto profits are subject to personal income tax

TAXATION | Crypto Profits Will Be Subject to Personal Income Tax, Reveals Chairman of Nigeria Tax Reforms Committee

Accounts may be linked to national identity and tax IDs

REGULATION | Nigeria Starts Implementing CARF Requirements by Tying Crypto Transactions to Tax and National IDs

Non-compliant service providers face enforcement penalties

REGULATION | SEC Nigeria Raises Minimum Capital Requirements, Sets Higher Bar for Crypto, Fintech, and Capital Market Operators

With Nigeria recording over $92 billion in crypto transaction volume between July 2024 and June 2025, authorities are increasingly treating digital assets as a mainstream revenue base, not a fringe activity.

Nigeria’s approach mirrors a wider African trend: as fintech and crypto mature, governments are moving to formalize, tax, and integrate digital finance into national revenue systems.

For crypto platforms and users, compliance strategy is quickly becoming as important as product or pricing.

REGULATION | Nigeria Starts Implementing CARF Requirements by Tying Crypto Transactions to Tax and National IDs

 

 

Sign up for BitKE updates for the latest crypto updates from across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_______________________________

The Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA Kenya) is advancing plans to reduce risks tied to trading in virtual assets by creating a dedicated fund to compensate investors if a licensed virtual-asset dealer fails to fulfil its obligations, underscoring the Kenyan government’s efforts to build the country into a digital finance hub.

CMA Chief Executive Wycliffe Shamiah told The EastAfrican that talks are underway on a compensation mechanism for people who buy and sell virtual assets, separate from the current Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) used for equity investors.

 

Shamiah explained that the existing ICF covers investors when brokers or investment banks go under, but with the growing number of players acting like brokers, especially in the virtual-assets space, there is a need for broader protection.

“A number of discussions are ongoing,” he said, noting that support for virtual-asset companies in case of failure might need a different arrangement than the current ICF.

 

A virtual or digital asset refers to digitally stored content or resources that have value and can be owned, traded or managed, including cryptocurrencies and digital tokens secured on blockchain technology.

In 2025, President William Ruto signed the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act 2025 into law establishing a legal framework for regulating cryptocurrencies.

EDITORIAL | Kenya Passes Landmark Crypto Law – Binance and Coinbase Expected to Lead Licensed Entrants

The CMA says compensation mechanisms for equity investors and virtual-asset investors will be separate, because the markets involve different players and products. Details on how the new compensation fund would work, including its funding sources, are still being discussed.

Shamiah noted that while both equity and virtual-asset markets fall under CMA regulation, the two are distinct, and mixing them under one fund may not be appropriate.

Currently, stock investors who lose money due to the failure of a licensed broker are compensated from the ICF, with a maximum payout of KES 200,000 (about $1,550) per investor.

The ICF is funded by interest earned on funds held between subscription closing dates and refunds, transaction levies on share and bond trading through the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), and penalties on operators who break CMA rules.

Shamiah said the compensation limit for equity investors was increased to KES 200,000 from KES 50,000, although there have not been significant market shocks recently. Discussions are also underway on widening the ICF’s coverage.

In November 2025, the CMA revealed it is in talks with major virtual-asset firms, including those dealing in Bitcoin, about listing shares on the NSE as part of efforts to deepen the market.

About four to five virtual-asset companies, mainly from the U.S and UK, have shown strong interest in selling shares to Kenyan investors through the bourse.

Such listings would allow investors to gain exposure to virtual-asset companies in a model similar to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which let investors trade assets like gold indirectly by owning shares in gold-dealing firms.

‘We Have Received About 5 Virtual Asset Companies Largely from the US and UK Looking to List,’ Says Kenya Capital Markets Regulator

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE updates on crypto markets in Africa

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

In a major milestone for crypto-native payments in Africa, Flutterwave, one of the continent’s largest payments infrastructure platforms, has teamed up with TurnKey to launch secure and verifiable stablecoin balances for merchants and users.

Through this collaboration, Flutterwave is integrating Turnkey’s embedded wallet infrastructure to offer USDC and USDT stablecoin balances alongside traditional fiat balances, enabling faster, cheaper, and always-on cross-border payments across its network.

Stablecoins are increasingly seen as a bridge between traditional finance and digital value especially in markets with volatile local currencies or costly remittance flows. By embedding stablecoin wallets directly into Flutterwave’s platform, businesses and individuals can receive, hold, and transfer value seamlessly without having to manage complex wallet software or private keys.

PRESS RELEASE | Flutterwave Collaborates with Polygon as an Infrastructure Partner for Stablecoin Payments Across Africa

Nkem Abuah, Lead for Remittances & Stablecoin Partnerships at Flutterwave, highlighted this integration as a key step toward making regulated stablecoins part of everyday payments infrastructure across Africa.

“To accelerate business growth in Africa, we must make it safe, easy, and affordable for businesses to accept all forms of regulated payment methods, including stablecoin, from a global customer base.”

 

Turnkey CEO, Bryce Ferguson, noted that powering scalable stablecoin balance infrastructure with verifiable security mechanisms helps ensure more efficient flows of capital with fewer intermediaries, directly putting value into the hands of businesses rather than costly middlemen.

“We share Flutterwave’s belief that stablecoins offer an incredibly efficient way to accelerate payments and put more money directly into the hands of business owners rather than intermediaries.”

FINTECH AFRICA | ‘Stablecoin Adoption Has the Potential to 10x the Volumes We’re Currently Doing,’ Says CEO, Flutterwave

TurnKey: The Infrastructure Powering the New Wallet Generation

Turnkey’s core proposition is building a secure, programmable, and verifiable wallet infrastructure layer that solves some of the most persistent challenges in crypto.

These challenges include:

 

1.) Removing Wallet Complexity

Traditional wallets require users to manage seed phrases and deal with cryptographic key storage – barriers that keep mainstream audiences out. TurnKey eliminates this by enabling embedded wallets that users can access with familiar authentication mechanisms (email, phone, biometrics) without ever exposing seed phrases.

This approach significantly lowers the technical and security friction for both users and developers launching services like payments, trading, or DeFi. Developers can deploy secure non-custodial wallets in weeks, not months, removing infrastructure bottlenecks and accelerating product rollout.

2.) Verifiable Security by Design

A defining feature of TurnKey’s infrastructure is its emphasis on verifiability: every critical operation, from wallet creation to policy evaluation and transaction signing, occurs inside secure enclave environments, producing cryptographic proofs that operations were executed exactly as intended.

This means platforms using TurnKey can independently audit and verify the integrity of their wallet infrastructure without blind trust, addressing one of the key concerns for regulators and enterprise adopters.

3.) Programmability, Scalability, and Automation

In 2025, TurnKey shipped more than a dozen capabilities aimed at real-world use cases: modular embedded wallet kits, multi-chain support, native on-and off-ramp integrations (e.g., Coinbase, MoonPay), policy-driven signing controls, and developer SDKs that accelerate integration.

These tools help teams focusing on payments (like Flutterwave), DeFi apps, mobile exchanges, or autonomous Web3 agents integrate wallet functionality without reinventing infrastructure, letting them focus on UX and core product differentiation.

Turnkey’s rise has been matched by market validation:

In June 2025, the company raised a $30 million Series B round led by Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Sequoia, Lightspeed Faction, Galaxy, Wintermute, and Variant bringing total funding to over $50 million. The round underscored investor confidence in secure, open infrastructure as the foundation for next-generation crypto applications.

In the same period, TurnKey was named to CNBC’s 2025 World’s Top Fintech Companies list, further validating its role as a core infrastructure provider at the intersection of traditional finance and crypto.

 

Flutterwave’s adoption of TurnKey’s wallet infrastructure reflects a broader trend: crypto primitives like stablecoins are moving from fringe use cases into mainstream financial rails, especially in markets where cross-border payments, remittances, and digital commerce demand speed and efficiency.

By lowering the technical barriers to wallet creation and secure key management, Turnkey is helping companies like Flutterwave and others in payments, trading, DeFi, and AI-driven automation unlock digital asset flows in ways that are compliant, secure, scalable, and user-friendly.

STABLECOINS | Stripe-Owned Nigerian Fintech, PayStack, Introduces Stablecoins as a ‘Major Theme’ Over Its Next Decade

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on Stablecoin updates across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Ghanas Finanzaufsichtsbehörden haben die Nationale Initiative zur Bildung über Virtuelle Vermögenswerte (NaVALI) vorgestellt, ein bildungsorientiertes Programm, das darauf abzielt, den aufkommenden regulatorischen Rahmen für digitale Vermögenswerte des Landes zu ergänzen. Der Start markiert einen wichtigen Meilenstein in Ghanas Übergang von informellen Krypto-Märkten zu einem strukturierten Regime, das Innovation mit Verbraucherschutz und finanzieller Integrität in Einklang bringt.

Angekündigt auf LinkedIn durch den Gouverneur der Bank von Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, zielt NaVALI darauf ab, alltägliche Ghanaer, einschließlich Pädagogen, Unternehmen und Aufsichtsbehörden, mit praktischem, jargonfreiem Verständnis für virtuelle Vermögenswerte wie Kryptowährungen, Stablecoins und andere blockchain-basierte Werkzeuge auszustatten.

Quidax, a provisionally-licenced Nigerian crypto startup, has shut down its peer-to-peer (P2P) trading feature just five months after launch, signaling the growing tension between crypto innovation and regulatory enforcement in Africa’s largest economy.

In an emailed notice to customers, Quidax said the decision to discontinue its P2P marketplace, including merchant ads, escrow services, and in-platform chats, was part of a strategic shift toward ‘higher-demand features’ like instant swaps and order-book trading.

Core services such as deposits, withdrawals, and spot trading will continue unaffected.

REPORT | Most Nigerian Crypto Investors Earn Below ~$200 Monthly, Says Nigerian Crypto Exchange, Quidax

Why P2P Was Controversial

P2P trading, where users buy and sell crypto directly with one another, has been a staple of Nigeria’s digital asset economy, often used to on-and off-ramp Naira outside traditional exchange rails. But regulators have increasingly flagged the model as a supervisory challenge.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC Nigeria) has publicly raised concerns about:

Opaque transaction flows

Exchange-rate manipulation, and

The dominance of foreign P2P platforms operating in regulatory grey zones.

This has made formal oversight difficult and heightened investor-protection risks.

REGULATION | Nigeria Sues Binance for $81.5 Billion in Economic Losses and Unpaid Taxes

Quidax’s P2P feature was built to address those concerns by restricting merchant status to verified users subjected to strict KYC, enhanced authentication, and participation requirements. But even this controlled model appears to have sat uneasily within SEC Nigeria’s evolving enforcement posture.

REGULATION | Nigerian National Faces 20-Year Imprisonment for Laundering Stolen Funds via Crypto

Regulatory Backdrop: Sandbox Stalls, Rules Tighten

Quidax is part of SEC Nigeria’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), a sandbox designed to guide digital-asset firms toward full licencing. The programme was expected to transition participants like Quidax and rival Nigerian exchange, Busha, to full licences by August 2025, but that timeline has stalled as the regulator reassesses its supervisory capacity.

REGULATION | Nigerian Crypto Exchange, Quidax, Receives Provisional Operating License from SEC Nigeria

At the same time, SEC Nigeria has updated capital-requirement thresholds under the Investment and Securities Act, 2025, classifying digital assets as securities and subjecting service providers to the regulator’s capital markets framework. Although detailed rules for P2P platforms haven’t yet been published, standalone intermediaries and multi-service operators now face minimum capital requirements in the hundreds of millions of Naira.

REGULATION | SEC Nigeria Raises Minimum Capital Requirements, Sets Higher Bar for Crypto, Fintech, and Capital Market Operators

Quidax’s decision underscores a broader reality: even when exchanges build P2P systems with strong controls, regulatory uncertainty can outweigh product demand.

In this case, Quidax noted that most users preferred faster, more traditional trading methods, a trend that has likely influenced the product roadmap.

For the Nigerian market, this development may tighten liquidity in informal channels and accelerate migration toward regulated on-and off-ramping options. It also reinforces the SEC’s message that crypto services must fit within the capital markets ecosystem if they are to scale.

As the regulatory framework continues to take shape, operators and users alike will be watching closely to see how other P2P-dependent products evolve.

STATISTICS | ‘Statistics Don’t Lie. Over 33% of Our Population Are Engaged in Digital Assets,’ Confirms SEC Nigeria

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE crypto updates from Nigeria and across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Stablecoins are increasingly being adopted across Africa as a faster and cheaper method for sending money, with remittances now seen as ‘more important than aid’ for many people on the continent, according to economist Vera Songwe, a former United Nations under-secretary-general speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

MILESTONE | Kenya Diaspora Remittances Hit Historic KES 1 Trillion (~$7.7 Billion) by November 2025, Says Prime Cabinet Minister

Songwe highlighted that traditional money transfer services in Africa can cost around $6 for every $100 sent, making cross-border payments not only expensive but slow. By contrast, stablecoins significantly lower fees and settlement times, enabling individuals and small businesses to move funds across borders in minutes instead of waiting days for transfers to complete.

REPORT | Sub-Saharan Africa Remains the Most Expensive Region for Sending Remittances, Says Latest World Bank Research

She also pointed to high inflation above 20% in roughly 12 to 15 African countries since the COVID-19 pandemic and explained that stablecoins offer a way to store value in currencies that are less affected by inflation, effectively acting as a financial safety net. Songwe noted that about 650 million people in Africa lack access to a bank account, but with a smartphone, they can use stablecoins to preserve value in a more stable currency.

According to Songwe, usage of stablecoins is especially high in Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa, where inflation or strict capital controls have limited traditional financial options.

REPORT | Stablecoin Transfers Account for 43% of All Crypto Transfers Across Africa, Ethiopia is Fastest-Growing Market, Says Chainalysis

She added that most stablecoin transactions involve small and medium-sized enterprises, showing how these digital assets are helping expand financial inclusion.

EDITORIAL | Western Union’s Regulated USDPT Stablecoin Could Redefine Remittances in Africa

Songwe now leads the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility as its chair and founder and serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. She previously held roles as a UN under-secretary-general and as executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

A Chainalysis report from September shows that Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for cryptocurrency adoption. Between July 2024 and June 2025, the region received more than $205 billion in on-chain value, a roughly 52% year-over-year increase, ranking it third globally.

REPORT | Sub-Saharan Africa is the 3rd Fastest-Growing Region Globally in OnChain Value

As digital asset use expands, responses from national regulators vary.

In December 2025, Ghana legalized cryptocurrency trading through a Virtual Asset Service Providers bill, creating a formal framework for the industry.

REGULATION | Ghana Passes the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill Officially Legalizing Cryptocurrencies

In January 2026, Nigeria implemented new rules requiring crypto service providers to link transactions to users’ tax IDs to bring activity into the formal tax system.

REGULATION | Nigeria Starts Implementing CARF Requirements by Tying Crypto Transactions to Tax and National IDs

Meanwhile, the South African Reserve Bank has warned that crypto assets and stablecoins pose an emerging financial stability risk as adoption grows.

REGULATION | South African Central Bank Warns ‘Crypto & Stablecoins Pose Financial Stability Risk’

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on stablecoin growth in Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Die Afrikanische Export-Import-Bank (AfreximBank) hat ihre langjährige Beziehung zur Kreditbewertung mit Fitch Ratings, der globalen Kreditbewertungsagentur, formell beendet, nachdem sie festgestellt hat, dass der aktuelle Bewertungsrahmen nicht mehr mit der rechtlichen Struktur, Mission und Risikoprofil der Bank übereinstimmt, wie sie bewertet werden sollten.

In einer Erklärung sagte die Afreximbank, dass eine umfassende Überprüfung ihres Engagements mit Fitch ergeben hat, dass die aktuellen Kreditbewertungsmethoden, die von der Agentur verwendet werden, das Gründungsabkommen der Bank – einen multilateralen Vertrag, der von ihren Mitgliedstaaten unterzeichnet und ratifiziert wurde und der ihr Mandat zur Unterstützung des intra- und extra-afrikanischen Handels untermauert – nicht angemessen widerspiegeln. Laut AfreximBank schafft dieser Vertrag Schutzmaßnahmen und rechtliche Verpflichtungen, die ihre Operationen von denen kommerzieller Banken unterscheiden – Unterscheidungen, die ihrer Meinung nach in den Bewertungen von Fitch übersehen wurden.

 

Herculis Gold Coin (XAUH) enables investors to own Swiss LBMA gold starting at just 0.01 grams, removing the traditional barriers that have kept it out of reach for most buyers

Gold has served as a store of value for millennia. Yet for most of modern history, actually owning physical gold remained out of reach for the average man. High minimum purchase amounts, dealer premiums, storage costs, and security concerns created obstacles that favored institutional and high-net-worth buyers.

That calculus is changing. Herculis Gold Coin (XAUH) represents a new model where fractional gold ownership becomes as accessible as buying a cup of coffee. Each XAUH token represents one gram of Swiss LBMA 999.9 fine gold and can be divided into units as small as 0.01 grams. At current gold prices, that equates to an entry cost of roughly $1.35 to $1.40.

 

Traditional Gold Investment Barriers

Physical gold bars remain the biggest obstacle to entry. Standard LBMA 400-ounce bars, the benchmark for institutional trading, demand roughly $1.2 million in capital at current prices. Even smaller one-kilogram bars still cost $135,000–$140,000, making them impractical for ordinary investors. Retail buyers turn to one-ounce coins or small bars, but those come with heavy premiums—typically 3%–8% above spot price. A coin priced at $2,500 while gold trades at $2,350 means the buyer starts $150 in the red. These costs create high barriers that shut out smaller investors.

Beyond purchase price, storage and insurance costs steadily chip away at returns. Bank safety boxes range from $50 to $300 per year, while private vaults can cost several thousand depending on size and location. Insurance coverage typically adds 0.5%–1% of asset value annually, translating to $250–$500 per year for a $50,000 holding. Over a decade, these recurring charges can consume thousands of dollars, eroding the stability gold is meant to provide.

ETFs and futures offer exposure without physical delivery, but they bring their own complications. Gold ETFs charge custody fees of 0.2%–0.4% annually that compound over time, while futures contracts require deep market knowledge and significant collateral—each representing about $320,000 in notional value. For smaller investors, these combined costs, complexities, and minimums make traditional gold ownership or trading effectively off-limits, preserving gold as an asset class dominated by institutions and wealthy individuals.

The Fractional Ownership Solution

XAUH eliminates most traditional barriers through tokenization. The minimum investment is one XAUH token, representing one gram of Swiss LBMA 999.9 fine gold. At approximately $135 to $140 per gram based on gold spot prices, this already makes gold ownership more accessible than buying gold coins or bars.

But divisibility extends further. XAUH tokens can be split into increments as small as 0.01 grams. This granularity enables position sizing that matches any budget. An investor with $10 can buy approximately 0.07 grams of gold exposure. Someone with $100 can acquire roughly 0.73 grams. This flexibility lets users allocate precisely, no matter their account size.

No custody fees apply after the initial purchase. Traditional gold investors pay ongoing storage and insurance costs regardless of whether they trade. XAUH holders incur no recurring fees. The gold remains stored in Swiss vaults managed by Herculis House, BRINKS, and LOOMIS, fully insured and audited quarterly, at no additional cost to token holders.

Trading fees on centralized and decentralized exchanges vary based on each platform’s spread against the gold spot price. Transfer fees on the JAMTON protocol are just 0.02%. This compares favorably to dealer premiums on physical gold, which can consume 3% to 8% of purchase value, or management fees on gold ETFs that erode returns annually.

Redemption for physical gold requires a minimum of 500 XAUH tokens (500 grams). For investors wanting to take delivery, redemption fees are 1% for quantities of one kilogram or more, and 3% for the 500-gram minimum. Shipping costs are additional. Most XAUH holders will likely trade tokens rather than redeem for physical metal, similar to how most ETF shareholders never take delivery.

The cost structure favors buy-and-hold strategies. After the initial tokenization or purchase fee, holders pay nothing to maintain their position. Compare this to physical gold where storage and insurance create ongoing expenses, or ETFs where management fees accumulate year after year.

 

Target Demographics for Fractional Gold Ownership

Younger investors are a primary market for fractional gold products. Millennials and Gen Z often begin with limited capital but still want balanced, diversified portfolios. Traditional gold minimums excluded them entirely – a graduate with $1,000 couldn’t practically allocate the recommended 5–10% to gold when a single ounce cost more than $2,000. Fractional ownership through tokens like XAUH changes that equation, allowing precise allocations of $50 or $100 and enabling smaller investors to participate without the traditional entry barriers. It turns gold from an exclusive asset into something accessible to anyone with a smartphone and a modest budget.

The model mirrors fractional stock investing, where users can buy small portions of expensive shares – for example, $10 of a $500 stock. That same democratization now extends to gold, attracting a new generation that values flexibility and transparency. In emerging markets, where a one-kilogram bar can cost more than an annual income and local dealers charge premiums above 10%, digital gold tokens offer a practical alternative. These digital gold tokens, available through Telegram wallets or supported exchanges, bypass middlemen and offer fair pricing in regions long underserved by traditional finance.

Crypto investors form another key demographic. Many seek assets that combine blockchain convenience with the stability of real-world value. Gold-backed tokens like XAUH bridge that gap, merging digital portability with the timeless security of gold. And accessibility isn’t limited to crypto natives – anyone familiar with digital payments can buy or transfer gold-backed tokens easily, making ownership as simple as sending a message. This shift redefines how investors of all backgrounds can protect value and diversify wealth in the digital age.

 

Modern Portfolio Strategies and Micro-Investing

Portfolio theory traditionally recommends allocating between 5% and 10% of total assets to gold as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. For investors with $1,000 portfolios, that suggests $50 to $100 in gold exposure. Traditional minimums made this impractical. Buying a single gold coin for $2,500 would overweight a small portfolio massively. Fractional ownership makes precise allocation possible.

Fractional gold also makes dollar-cost averaging practical. An investor can commit to buying $25 of gold-backed tokens monthly regardless of price. Over time, this strategy averages out price volatility, buying more grams when prices fall and fewer when prices rise. With physical gold, the minimum purchase amount makes regular small buys impossible. Even quarterly purchases of one-ounce coins require $2,500 or more in available capital.

Rebalancing a portfolio means selling assets that have grown too large and buying those that have fallen below target levels. When gold appreciates significantly, rebalancing might suggest selling a small amount to restore target allocation. If gold rises from 5% to 8% of portfolio value, an investor with a $10,000 account needs to sell roughly $300 in gold. Fractional tokens enable precise adjustments. Physical gold’s indivisibility creates practical problems for small accounts where selling one coin might remove all gold exposure.

Integration with decentralized finance platforms expands the token’s utility beyond simple ownership. XAUH can serve as collateral for loans in DeFi protocols, allowing investors to access liquidity without selling their gold position. Holders can deposit tokens in liquidity pools and earn yield from trading fees. These applications turn gold into a productive asset rather than passive storage in a vault.

Risk management strategies become more sophisticated with fractional ownership. An investor might want 3% gold exposure as a hedge but can’t achieve this precisely when forced to buy full ounces or bars. A $5,000 account targeting 3% gold allocation requires exactly $150 in exposure. Fractional tokens enable this level of precision.

 

Educational Barriers and Solutions

Investing in gold has traditionally required understanding purity standards, refinery reputations, authentication methods, and storage security. These knowledge barriers discouraged many people who found the learning curve too steep. Questions about karats versus fineness, the difference between bullion and numismatic coins, and how to verify authenticity created friction.

LBMA standards simplify some complexity. LBMA certification guarantees 999.9 purity and adherence to responsible sourcing standards. XAUH‘s backing by Swiss LBMA gold eliminates concerns about metal quality. Investors no longer need to master purity standards or compare refineries.

PX Precinox SA refines the gold backing XAUH tokens. The country’s long-standing reputation for precision and reliability supports this supply chain. The “Swiss Made” designation carries weight that reduces due-diligence requirements for individual investors, who can rely on that established reputation rather than conduct independent verification.

Quarterly audits by Swiss firms verify gold reserves. Results are available through the Chainlink decentralized oracle network protocol. This transparency addresses the trust question that complicates gold ownership. Without audits, investors have to trust custodians – but regular verification and public reporting through blockchain oracles restore accountability.

Blockchain immutability provides additional assurance. Every XAUH token’s creation is recorded permanently on the blockchain. The total token supply can be compared against audited gold reserves. This transparency exceeds what traditional gold storage offers, where investors typically receive statements from custodians but can’t independently verify holdings.

 

Comparing Accessibility Models

Owning physical gold demands both significant capital and expertise. Buyers must evaluate products, identify reputable dealers, arrange secure storage, and manage insurance. The learning curve is steep and the ongoing management burden is substantial. For someone without existing precious metals knowledge, the barrier to entry can feel insurmountable.

Gold ETFs reduced these issues significantly. Investors can buy shares through standard brokerage accounts with the same ease as purchasing stocks. No storage or insurance concerns arise. However, annual custody fees erode returns over time. A 0.4% annual fee might seem small but compounds significantly over decades. ETF shares also aren’t redeemable for physical metal in most cases, meaning owners never have the option to take delivery.

Gold certificates represent another middle ground. Banks issue certificates representing gold ownership without physical delivery. Storage and insurance are handled by the bank. However, the gold typically isn’t allocated to specific customers. In bankruptcy scenarios, certificate holders might become unsecured creditors rather than having claim to specific metal.

Some dealers offer gold savings programs that let customers make small, regular purchases. Over time, these accumulate into enough for physical delivery once minimum thresholds are met. These programs charge premiums and storage fees, increasing total cost. They also lock investors into single dealers, limiting flexibility.

XAUH combines accessibility advantages of ETFs with redemption rights for physical metal. Unlike certificates, the backing gold is allocated and audited. Unlike savings programs, no premiums or ongoing storage fees apply. Unlike ETFs, holders can redeem tokens for Swiss LBMA gold bars starting at 500 grams. The model preserves optionality while eliminating most traditional costs and hindrances.

 

Market Implications of Democratized Access

When barriers fall, participation rises. Fractional stock ownership contributed to millions of new investors entering equity markets. Similar expansion seems likely for gold as tokenization reduces minimum capital requirements and eliminates ongoing custody fees.

The real shift is distributional. Historically, gold was held mainly by wealthy individuals, institutions, and central banks. Fractional ownership expands participation across income levels and regions. This democratization aligns with cryptocurrency’s original ethos of financial inclusion and removing intermediaries.

The technology already exists for digital gold accounts with low minimums. Established institutions have brand recognition and regulatory ties that new entrants often lack. Incumbent institutions have brand recognition and regulatory relationships that new entrants lack. However, their traditional overhead makes offering low-fee models difficult. Physical vault networks and established overhead create pressure to charge fees that token-based models avoid.

Conclusion

By tokenizing gold into fractional units, XAUH removes the barriers that long kept the asset exclusive to the wealthy. With minimums starting at just 0.01 grams, no custody fees, and 24/7 availability through platforms like Telegram, owning gold becomes attainable for anyone with a smartphone. This accessibility resonates across demographics – from young investors and emerging market savers seeking inflation protection to crypto users looking for a stable, asset-backed store of value. Many of these groups previously faced high costs, complexity, or logistical hurdles.

Fractional tokens modernize gold’s role in diversified portfolios by enabling precise allocations, regular micro-investments, and flexible rebalancing. As regulation catches up and more exchanges list gold-backed assets, adoption will accelerate. The tokenization model behind XAUH illustrates how blockchain can turn traditionally exclusive asset classes into open, inclusive investment opportunities – bringing the centuries-old appeal of gold into the digital era.

2026 OUTLOOK | Top 15 Web3 VCs in 2025 and How They’re Looking at 2026

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on tokenization updates globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

After a long phase of rapid expansion, the global stablecoin market has stopped growing and entered a consolidation phase.

Industry sources say this plateau (around ~310 billion) reflects higher compliance costs from tighter rules in the U.S and EU and the fact that U.S Treasury yields are more attractive than holding non-yielding stablecoins.

Key points

• Issuance slowing: Institutional stablecoin issuers now face tougher regulatory requirements like stricter reserve standards under the US GENIUS Act and the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regime which has raised compliance costs and discouraged aggressive minting.

• Treasury yields matter: With real yields on U.S government debt trading higher, the opportunity cost of holding stablecoins that don’t pay direct interest has risen, reducing speculative demand.

STABLECOINS | Circulation of Stablecoins Doubled in the Past 18 Months, Says McKinsey

• Market size staying steady: Data show the total stablecoin supply has hovered around ~$310 billion since late 2025 after more than doubling during early 2024–2025.

MILESTONE | Stablecoins Cross $300 Billion in Market Cap for the First Time

• Macro stress and market behavior: The plateau comes after a sharp market sell-off in October 2025 that triggered widespread deleveraging, shrinking demand for on-chain liquidity.

MILESTONE | Crypto Markets Record the Largest Single-Day Liquidation Event in History

• Yield debate heats up: Banking groups are pushing to curb or ban yield-bearing stablecoins in upcoming U.S legislation (CLARITY Act), arguing they could compete with traditional deposits, a claim industry leaders like Circle’s CEO have strongly rejected.

CLARITY ACT | U.S Senate Banking Committee Unveils Draft Crypto Market Structure Bill With Proposed Amendments

Stablecoins may now be viewed less as high-growth instruments and more as foundational infrastructure for payments and settlement. The market’s next expansion phase could hinge on clearer regulations and products that offer yield without triggering regulatory pushback.

2025 RECAP | Stablecoins Surged by ~50% in 2025 – The Biggest Year on Record

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on stablecoin updates globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Die äthiopische Regierung hat offiziell angekündigt, dass sie nach Investitionspartnern sucht, um die Bitcoin-Mining-Infrastruktur aufzubauen und zu betreiben, Teil ihrer umfassenderen wirtschaftlichen und digitalen Transformationsstrategie.

Auf der Finance Forward Ethiopia 2026-Konferenz sagte Premierminister Abiy Ahmed, dass die staatseigene Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) aktiv nach erfahrenen Partnern sucht, die Kapital, Mining-Technologie und betriebliche Expertise für eine nationale Bitcoin-Mining-Initiative einbringen können. Ziel ist es, direkte Einnahmen für das Land aus dem Bitcoin-Mining zu generieren, anstatt sich ausschließlich auf private Betreiber zu verlassen.

Das Büro des Datenschutzbeauftragten (ODPC) hat offiziell bestätigt, dass die Muttergesellschaft von WorldCoin, Tools for Humanity, alle zuvor von kenianischen Bürgern gesammelten biometrischen Daten gelöscht hat.

Der Regulierer sagte, dies folgte einem Compliance-Audit, um sicherzustellen, dass die Löschung mit dem Datenschutzgesetz von 2019 übereinstimmte, und die Durchsetzung des Datenschutzes in Kenia ins Rampenlicht rückte.

Die Sammlung biometrischer Daten von WorldCoin in Kenia, wo Tausende von Menschen ihre Iris- und Gesichtsscans über ‚Orbs‘ im Austausch gegen Krypto-Belohnungen erfassen ließen, zog schnell regulatorisches Feuer auf sich.

Crypto payments in Kenya are quietly crossing a major threshold. What was once an underground peer-to-peer workaround is now surfacing as a functional, mainstream payment flow linking Binance, M-PESA TILLs and PAYBILLs, and direct settlement into Kenyan bank accounts, including KCB.

The shift was highlighted by Nick Mwendwa, CEO of Riverbank Solutions, who confirmed that users can now move value from crypto holdings such as USDT, USDC and Bitcoin into everyday merchant payments that ultimately settle into bank accounts and mobile wallets.

The feature was first noticed in 2025 by a crypto trader online who shared the experience at the time.

Binance now allowing the selling and buying of crypto through mobile money in Kenya.

•Minimum deposits set at 1,200 •USDT/KES at around 134.20 for buying pic.twitter.com/jeopGtv6qN

— Theo (@Theo_mwangi) September 29, 2025

For years, Binance P2P has been the de facto on-ramp and off-ramp for Kenyan crypto users. The system operated at scale but largely out of public view, sustained by informal trust networks and quiet execution.

 

That era, industry insiders say, is ending.

“What we used to do quietly in P2P has gone mainstream,” Mwendwa said, noting that crypto can now be used to pay merchants through standard M-PESA channels without the need for opaque workarounds.

P2P | Binance P2P to Shut Down the Cash Zone Option from April 2025

From Workarounds to Infrastructure

The ability to pay via TILL and PAYBILL numbers, rails already embedded across Kenyan commerce, marks a structural shift. Crypto is no longer just an asset class or trading instrument; it is increasingly functioning as a settlement layer that plugs into the country’s dominant payments infrastructure.

This evolution has important implications for builders and fintech firms. Many payment providers have long had crypto-adjacent capabilities but avoided public promotion due to regulatory uncertainty. With these flows now visible and functional, companies can begin to design products more openly around crypto-to-fiat settlement, according to Nick.

Regulation Is Catching Up

The development comes as Kenya moves closer to formal virtual asset regulation, following proposals by the Capital Markets Authority and broader policy discussions around licensing, custody, and consumer protection.

What this moment reveals, however, is that usage has consistently preceded regulation. Crypto payments have already embedded themselves into everyday financial behaviour. Regulation is now arriving to organise, supervise and legitimise an ecosystem that is already operating at scale.

Industry observers note that this mirrors earlier phases of Kenya’s fintech growth, where innovation often ran ahead of formal rule-making.

EDITORIAL | Kenya Passes Landmark Crypto Law – Binance and Coinbase Expected to Lead Licensed Entrants

Why Banks Have a Strategic Edge

The quiet emergence of bank-settled crypto payments also highlights why Kenyan banks may be better positioned than expected in the next phase of digital assets.

Banks already control:

Settlement accounts

Compliance and KYC infrastructure

Liquidity management

Trusted links to mobile money systems like M-PESA

As crypto transactions increasingly terminate in bank accounts, traditional lenders are becoming critical endpoints, not bystanders. Rather than being disrupted, banks can embed crypto flows into existing products – treasury services, merchant acquiring, cross-border payments and settlement.

EXPERT OPINION | The Stablecoin Opportunity Banks Are Missing

This creates a significant advantage over standalone crypto firms that still need access to banking rails to complete transactions.

The integration of Binance, M-PESA and bank settlement signals a broader transition: crypto in Kenya is moving from informal utility to recognised financial infrastructure.

As regulation takes shape, the market is likely to see clearer roles emerge with banks, payment processors and crypto platforms converging rather than competing outright.

What was once whispered about in P2P circles is now happening in plain sight. And in Kenya’s fast-moving financial landscape, that visibility may be the clearest sign yet that crypto payments are here to stay.

How USDT Donations Via the Binance P2P Platform Supported the June 2025 Kenya Gen Z Protests

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on African startups funding.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), the bitcoin treasury company led by Michael Saylor, pushed its corporate Bitcoin holdings past 709,000 BTC with a massive $2.13 billion acquisition of 22,305 BTC, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. This latest buy, funded through share and preferred stock offerings, represents the company’s largest purchase in over a year and underscores its core mission: accumulate Bitcoin relentlessly and hold it as a strategic treasury asset.

As of the January 2026 disclosure, Strategy owns 709,715 BTC, representing roughly 3.37 % of the total 21 million bitcoin supply. The company has spent about $53.9 billion acquiring these coins at an average cost of ~$75,979 per BTC. Despite short-term unrealized losses reflected in its Q4 financials, a point of scrutiny among analysts, Strategy’s leadership has doubled down on the narrative that long-term growth in bitcoin-per-share is the company’s most vital benchmark.

Michael Saylor’s strategy is unapologetically simple but bold:

Raise capital via equity and preferred stock offerings (ATMs) and channel that capital directly into Bitcoin.

 

This model bypasses traditional operational revenue, instead using capital markets as the fuel for BTC accumulation. While critics call this approach risky leverage, supporters view it as disciplined capital allocation into a deflationary asset class.

CASE STUDY | Strategy Inc. – A Corporate Playbook for Bitcoin Adoption in Africa

Who Are the Biggest Public Corporate Bitcoin Holders?

According to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net and other trackers, here’s how the top public companies stack up by BTC holdings:

Strategy Inc. (MSTR) — ~709,715 BTC — by far the largest public corporate holder.

MARA Holdings, Inc. (MARA) — ~53,250 BTC — major mining and holding company.

Twenty One Capital (XXI) — ~43,514 BTC — diversified digital asset treasury.

Metaplanet Inc. (MTPLF) — ~35,102 BTC.

Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (CEPO) — ~30,021 BTC.

Bullish (BLSH) — ~24,300 BTC.

Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) — ~18,005 BTC.

 

These figures represent publicly traded companies that hold Bitcoin as a treasury asset, and while many others hold BTC in smaller amounts, Strategy’s holdings dwarf the next largest public holders by more than an order of magnitude.

BITCOIN | ‘Most Countries Have to Look at it [Bitcoin Reserve] Very Carefully, and So Are We,” Says South African President at WEF 2025

The Rise of Bitcoin Treasury Companies

Michael Saylor and Strategy essentially invented the modern corporate Bitcoin treasury playbook. In 2020, when MicroStrategy first started converting cash reserves into BTC, few corporate treasuries considered holding digital assets. That move was widely covered as a bold shift in corporate finance and it quickly became a playbook imitators would follow.

That playbook is straightforward:

Raise capital through equity and preferred stock sales.

Acquire Bitcoin in large blocks using proceeds.

Hold indefinitely with minimal selling, treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve rather than a trading asset.

Today, hundreds of companies, both public and private, have adopted some variation of this model, holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets as a hedge against inflation, diversification from cash and bonds, and a long-term growth asset.

By late 2025, more than 180 companies had reported Bitcoin holdings, spanning diverse sectors beyond tech and mining.

BITCOIN | Altvest, Africa’s First Publicly-Listed Firm to Add Bitcoin to Treasury Reserve, Rebrands to ‘Africa Bitcoin Corporation’

Challenges Facing Treasury Companies

Despite the explosive growth of Bitcoin treasury companies, the model has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism.

 

Market Volatility & Valuation Risk – Bitcoin’s price swings can create large unrealized losses on balance sheets. Strategy itself reported notable unrealized losses in late 2025, impacting investor sentiment and stock price performance even after large BTC purchases.

Premium vs. Fundamentals – Some critics argue that companies like Strategy earn valuation premiums that aren’t justified by underlying fundamentals essentially selling a stock that holds an asset without additional revenue diversification. This dynamic has led to debates on fair value and sustainability of the treasury model.

Credit Risk & Regulatory Scrutiny – Analysts warn that heavy corporate Bitcoin holdings can heighten credit risk, particularly for firms using debt instruments to finance buys. Additionally, regulatory uncertainty, especially in areas like tax treatment, accounting standards, and custody practices, remains a key operational headwind.

Market Sentiment & Price Pressure – Some Bitcoin treasury companies trade at significant discounts to their net asset value (NAV), which can weaken the perceived strength of the strategy and reduce capital-raising effectiveness.

Governance and Transparency – Because on-chain reserves aren’t always publicly verifiable, especially for companies that don’t disclose wallet addresses, investors often rely on SEC filings rather than real-time proof-of-reserves. This creates transparency debates within the treasury company world.

PRESS RELEASE | The First Bitcoin Treasury Company Receives a B- Rating from a Major Credit Rating Agency

The corporate Bitcoin treasury movement catalysed by Saylor’s Strategy has had real ripple effects:

Smaller public companies and even non-crypto firms have announced Bitcoin holdings to attract investors and diversify their balance sheets.

Traditional institutional investors increasingly consider Bitcoin exposures via treasury companies or proxy stocks.

Debates in media and analytical reports now center on strategic treasury policies, risk management, and the long-term role of digital assets in corporate finance.

EXPERT OPINION | Bitcoin, Digital Asset Treasuries and the Road to 2026: Director of Institutional at Gemini on Where Crypto Is Headed

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto developments globally. 

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFC) made a strong case for Nairobi as Africa’s premier destination for finance, innovation, and regulated digital assets – signaling a strategic push that could transform Kenya’s crypto ecosystem.

NIFC’s CEO, Daniel Mainda, told global investors that Nairobi has shifted from “momentum to architecture,” focusing on regulatory clarity, strong institutions, and real economic outcomes rather than provisional experiments. The engagement in Davos showcased plans to support blockchain infrastructure and scalable digital platforms.

 

“Kenya has made a deliberate shift from momentum to architecture. Through the Nairobi International Financial Centre, we are building markets – not experiments – anchored in regulatory clarity, strong institutions, and real economic outcomes.

Nairobi is positioning itself as Africa’s trusted platform for capital, innovation, and regulated digital assets, offering active facilitation, sandbox support, and targeted incentives for regional headquarters, holding companies, venture capital and private equity funds, and high-growth startups.

We will compete on regulatory quality, not regulatory arbitrage – and we are open for serious business.”

REGULATION | Kenya’s Crypto Regulatory Capture is Actually Regional – Here’s Why It Matters for East Africa

Crypto Regulation: From Law to Market

A key pillar of Kenya’s strategy is the country’s new legal framework for virtual assets, which has begun to take shape:

In October 2025, Kenya’s Parliament passed the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act, formalizing rules for crypto and digital asset firms and providing legal recognition for virtual assets.

Under the Act, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) are designated to license and supervise digital-asset activities, from exchanges and wallets to trading services.

Detailed operational regulations – the rules that explain exactly how licensing and compliance will work in practice — are now being developed by the National Treasury, CBK, and CMA to activate the licensing regime.

REGULATION | ‘We Have Not Licensed Any VASPs Under the [VASP] Act to Operate In or From Kenya,’ Says Central Bank and Capital Markets Regulator

Once implemented, this regulatory structure will give digital-asset businesses confidence that compliance, investor protection, and risk-management standards are in place, addressing concerns that have previously slowed institutional and retail participation in the Kenyan market.

REGULATION | The Kenya Crypto Regulation is Unique and We’ll See It Adopted Across East Africa, Says Yellow Card Senior Legal Counsel

A Competitive Advantage for Finance and Crypto

NIFC’s message in Davos, that Nairobi is open for serious business, was backed by commitments from global players like ChainBLX SPC and SCC Fund SP to establish operations in Kenya with NIFC support.

For the crypto sector specifically, the regulatory momentum positions Kenya to attract exchanges, fintechs, and digital platforms seeking a clear, regulated base for African expansion. Industry observers expect that once formal licensing begins, global players will be more willing to enter the Kenyan market, much like in other jurisdictions where legal certainty opened the door for licensed operations.

EDITORIAL | Kenya Passes Landmark Crypto Law – Binance and Coinbase Expected to Lead Licensed Entrants

For the Kenyan crypto community and the broader Web3 ecosystem, the NIFC’s positioning and the completion of crypto regulations represent a critical turning point:

Clarity and oversight from CBK and CMA could reduce risks such as fraud and unregulated activity.

A regulated environment helps legitimate exchanges and service providers establish operations locally, potentially boosting job creation and innovation.

With clear rules, Kenya can better compete with South Africa and other African markets advancing crypto frameworks.

2025 RECAP | South Africa Had Approved 300 Crypto Firms Out of 512 Applications as of December 2025

As NIFC continues to roll out incentives for regional headquarters, venture capital, and financial services firms, the combination of regulatory progress and strategic positioning could make Kenya a magnet for digital-asset investment – turning Nairobi into one of Africa’s next big crypto hubs.

REGULATION | Bank of Uganda Governor Lists 6 Foundational Pillars for Crypto Regulation in the Country

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for crypto regulatory updates across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

As PayStack marks its 10th anniversary, the company isn’t just celebrating a decade of powering payments across Africa, it’s staking a bold claim in the future of digital money.

PayStack operates in key African markets, handling growth that has accelerated since its acquisition by global payments leader Stripe in 2020. That partnership has helped scale PayStack’s payment volume more than twelvefold and now ties the business into some of the most exciting innovations shaping global finance.

[WATCH] Nigerian Payment Startup, PayStack, Gets Acquired by Online Payment Firm, Stripe, for Over $200 Million

The Stack Group and a Stablecoin Vision

To reflect broader ambitions, PayStack announced the creation of The Stack Group (TSG), a new parent company that will house payments, banking, consumer finance, and a new tech arm called TSG Labs.

PRESS RELEASE | Stripe-Owned Nigerian Fintech, PayStack, Launches Holding Company, The Stack Group, as it Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

This arm is explicitly charged with pushing into emerging technologies, including stablecoins and other blockchain-linked financial infrastructure.

Crucially, PayStack says it is finalizing a stablecoin license in a key market, indicating its intent to build or issue digital cash that can move at internet speed and with lower friction than traditional money.

Stablecoins, digital assets pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar, are rapidly becoming core rails for fast, low-cost global payments.

Yellow Card, Flutterwave, Onafriq: Why Africa’s Fintech Sector is Turning to Stablecoins

Stripe itself has been one of the biggest builders in this space:

Stripe and crypto partner, Paradigm, developed Tempo, a new blockchain optimized for stablecoin payments, remittances, and micropayments at high speed.

INTRODUCING | Global Fintech Giant, Stripe, Launches Tempo, a Payments-Focussed Blockchain for Stablecoins

Stripe’s acquisition of stablecoin platform, Bridge, has enabled it to launch Open Issuance, letting businesses create and manage their own stablecoins.

MILESTONE | Stripe Makes Headlines with $1.1 Billion Acquisition of Bridge, the Largest Deal in Crypto History

Major fintechs like Klarna have already launched USD-pegged stablecoins on Stripe’s blockchain infrastructure, with broader adoption expected in 2026.

Introducing KlarnaUSD, our first @Stablecoin.

We’re the first bank to launch on @tempo, the payments blockchain by @stripe and @paradigm.

With stablecoin transactions already at $27T a year, we’re bringing faster, cheaper cross-border payments to our 114M customers.

Crypto is…

— Klarna (@Klarna) November 25, 2025

Through its new group structure and ambitions to secure stablecoin licensing, PayStack is positioning itself to ride this wave of digital money innovation – potentially offering merchants and customers in Africa access to programmable, blockchain-enabled money that moves as fast as the internet.

A Second Decade, Redefined

What began as a mission to simplify online payments in Africa is now expanding toward end-to-end money movement solutions that tap into cutting-edge global payment technologies.

With Stripe’s deepening investment in stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure, PayStack’s next decade could see it become a bridge between traditional African finance and the emerging world of digital dollars.

STABLECOINS | Leading African Fintech, NALA, Partners with Noah to Launch a Stablecoin Settlement Network on Regulated Rails

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE updates on stablecoins in Africa

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Ein Beitrag von Senator Ihenyen, Lead Partner bei Infusion Lawyers und derzeitiger Vorsitzender des Lenkungsausschusses der Vereinigung der Anbieter von virtuellen Vermögenswerten (VASPA).



Während sich der anfängliche Staub über das Rundschreiben Nr. 26-1 der Wertpapier- und Börsenaufsichtsbehörde (SEC) Nigeria legt – das neue Mindestkapitalanforderungen für Kapitalmarktbetreiber (CMOs) umreißt – beginnt sich ein besorgniserregendes Bild zu formen.

Da Anbieter von virtuellen Vermögenswerten (VASPs) nun als CMOs klassifiziert sind, zeigt ein Vergleich mit globalen Regulierungsregimen für digitale Vermögenswerte, dass Nigerias neue ₦2 Milliarden (etwa 1,4 Millionen US-Dollar) Mindestkapitalanforderung für digitale Vermögensaustauschplattformen (DAXs) nicht nur steil ist, sondern auch zu den restriktivsten weltweit gehört. Dies wirft Bedenken auf, dass die Politik letztendlich die lokale Kapazität und Resilienz einschränken könnte, die die Regierung fördern sollte, um Nigeria in diesem sich schnell entwickelnden Sektor wettbewerbsfähig zu halten.