Fintechs and crypto shake Africa’s banking foundations

Fintechs and crypto shake Africa’s banking foundations

Rapid changes in the payments landscape across Africa are challenging traditional banks, which are being forced to adapt quickly to new modes of facilitating transactions such as mobile money and cryptocurrencies. This is according to the Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) Payments in Africa white paper released last week, which found that increased…

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Crypto scams on the rise in SA

Crypto scams on the rise in SA

Christo de Wit, country manager for SA, Luno. New data from Luno, SA’s crypto-currency platform, reveals that while crypto-related scams affect less than 1% of its 14 million customers, scams and fraudulent misrepresentation remain the most prevalent forms of fraud in digital currency. A recent case involving a South African man who lost R4 million…

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Crypto industry shoots for mainstream adoption

Crypto industry shoots for mainstream adoption

US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a law to create a regulatory regime for dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies known as stablecoins, a milestone that could pave the way for the digital assets to become an everyday way to make payments and move money. The bill, dubbed the Genius Act, passed in the US house of representatives…

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SARB fights to reclaim R16m in crypto over outdated forex laws

SARB fights to reclaim R16m in crypto over outdated forex laws

A recent judgement finds that Bitcoin can’t be regulated under apartheid-era exchange control rules. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is appealing a Pretoria High Court ruling that set aside its forfeiture of more than R16.4 million held by Standard Bank, ruling that apartheid-era exchange control regulations can’t be used to deal with modern-day crypto-currency…

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DOJ seizes record 5 million in crypto tied to scams

DOJ seizes record $225 million in crypto tied to scams

The Justice Department announced Wednesday the largest-ever U.S. seizure of cryptocurrency linked to so-called “pig butchering” scams that have cost victims billions globally. Federal prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture action targeting more than $225 million in cryptocurrency traced to a sprawling web of fraudulent investment platforms. Victims were tricked into believing they were investing in…

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Crypto players call for reforms to unlock over R500m in extra tax

Crypto players call for reforms to unlock over R500m in extra tax

Aligning digital asset classification with onshore status could strengthen SA’s position in the fast-evolving digital finance space. South African crypto-currency players are calling for regulatory changes that will see digital currencies being declared onshore assets in the country. They note South Africa’s regulatory grey zone around digital currencies may be holding back significant investment potential….

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