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United States officials are weighing a controversial idea: intervening directly in oil futures markets to curb surging crude prices driven by geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.

The proposal – which could involve government trading of oil derivatives – has sparked sharp warnings from market operators and raised questions about whether Washington should attempt to influence global energy prices through financial markets.

 

CME Warns Intervention Could Trigger a ‘Biblical Disaster’

The Head of CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives exchange, warned that any attempt by the U.S. government to intervene in oil futures trading could severely damage market confidence.

Chief Executive, Terry Duffy, said such a move would risk a “biblical disaster” by undermining trust in energy markets at a time of already extreme volatility linked to the conflict involving Iran.

Oil markets have been highly unstable as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz threaten a critical shipping route for global crude supplies. Prices recently surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of prolonged disruptions and escalating geopolitical risk.

Duffy argued that government participation in futures trading – traditionally dominated by private traders, energy firms, and financial institutions – could distort price discovery and deter market participants.

 

Trump Administration Exploring Trading Oil Futures

Despite those concerns, officials in the administration of Donald Trump have discussed the possibility of government involvement in oil derivatives markets as one option to cool prices.

Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, confirmed that the idea had been debated internally as the White House searches for tools to counter rising fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict.

According to Burgum, policymakers examined whether trading oil futures could influence market expectations and help push prices lower. However, he said he was not aware of any actual intervention taking place.

Earlier discussions reportedly considered whether the U.S. Treasury could buy or sell energy futures contracts, though officials have suggested such action might have limited impact on global prices.

The derivatives strategy is only one of several measures under consideration as Washington attempts to manage rising energy costs.

Other options reportedly include:

Releasing crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Temporarily waiving shipping restrictions under the Jones Act

Relaxing certain fuel regulations

Suspending gasoline taxes

A temporary waiver of the century-old Jones Act, for example, could allow foreign tankers to transport fuel between U.S. ports, potentially easing supply bottlenecks.

The debate over possible intervention has already fueled speculation in energy markets.

Traders noted unusual activity in oil derivatives, prompting rumors that the U.S. Treasury might already be acting in the market. Officials have denied those claims, but analysts say even speculation about government involvement could destabilize trading.

The idea remains controversial because oil futures markets are vast and globally interconnected. Experts warn that influencing them would require enormous capital and could create unintended consequences for liquidity and pricing.

The discussions highlight the limited tools governments have to control energy prices during geopolitical crises.

With shipping disruptions and supply risks continuing in the Middle East, policymakers face pressure to protect consumers from rising gasoline prices while avoiding moves that could damage financial markets or erode confidence in global energy trading.

My First Encounter with Derivatives Trading

 

 

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Global payments giant MasterCard has launched a new crypto-focused collaboration initiative bringing together dozens of companies across the digital asset and payments industries to build blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

MasterCard has introduced a Crypto Partner Program aimed at accelerating the integration of digital assets with traditional payment networks.

The initiative brings together more than 85 companies across the crypto and financial services sectors to collaborate on blockchain-based solutions for payments, settlements and financial infrastructure.

 

According to MasterCard:

“Digital assets are entering a new phase.

What once ran in parallel to existing financial systems is increasingly being applied to solve practical, real-world needs — often behind the scenes – from cross-border remittances to B2B money transfers. Enterprise and institutional use cases such as payouts, settlement, and cross‑border money movement are beginning to take hold, creating new opportunities to add value to how money moves globally.

That’s why we’re introducing the Mastercard Crypto Partner Program – a new global initiative that brings together more than 85 crypto‑native companies, payments providers, and financial institutions to create a forum for meaningful dialogue and collaboration as this space continues to mature.

Recognizing how much there is to learn from the innovators building on chain every day, the program will allow expertise and insights to flow both ways as we shape the future together.”

 

Participants include major crypto exchanges, infrastructure providers and fintech firms below:

 

Crypto Exchanges and Trading Platforms

Binance

Bybit

Crypto.com

Gemini

Kraken

OKX

SwissBorg

Blockchain Networks and Protocols

Aptos

Ava Labs

Axelar

Canton

Cosmos Labs

Monad

Optimism

Polygon

Solana

Stellar

Supra

Tron

Stablecoin Issuers and Digital Asset Financial Services

Circle

Nexo

Paxos

StraitsX

Crypto Infrastructure and Custody Providers

Anchorage Digital

BitGo

DFNS

Fireblocks

Nethermind

Parfin

Taurus

Utila

Compliance, Security and Risk Analytics

Blockaid

Chainalysis

Elliptic

Hacken

Hypernative

Merkle Science

Notabene

Sardine

TRM Labs

Zellic

Crypto Payments and On/Off-Ramp Providers

Baanx

Borderless.xyz

dtcpay

Fuze

Immersve

Koywe

Kulipa

Mercuryo

MoonPay

PayCaddy

Pomelo

Rain

Transak

Unlimit

Yellow Card

Fintech, Banking and Payments Infrastructure

CBW Bank

Cross River

Episode Six

Galileo

Highnote

Keyrails

Lead Bank

Lithic

Marqeta

Modern Treasury

Monavate

Moorwand

Paymentology

Peoples Group

Shift4

SoFi

Thought Machine

Thredd

WebBank

Worldpay

Wallets and Developer Platforms

Crossmint

Halliday

Infinia

LI.FI

Lirium

MetaMask

Privy

Reown

Turnkey

Venly

Web3, Identity and Data Infrastructure

1Money

Arc

Bolt

Cyclops

DCS

Nominis

Plume

Portal Labs

Rayls

Tempo

According to the company, the program is designed to connect crypto-native firms, banks, and payments providers so they can develop interoperable solutions that combine blockchain technology with Mastercard’s global payments network.

MasterCard believes the next phase of on-chain payments will be built through collaboration.

LAUNCH | MetaMask to Launch Self-Custody Wallet Debit Cards with MasterCard

Focus on Practical Real-World Payments

The collaboration will focus on practical use cases where digital assets could improve payment infrastructure, including:

Cross-border transfers and remittances

Business-to-business (B2B) payments

Global payouts

Blockchain-based settlement systems

 

MasterCard said:

“The focus is practical execution: translating technical innovation into scalable, compliant use cases that can operate across markets and integrate seamlessly into everyday commerce.”

 

These applications aim to reduce settlement times, lower transaction costs and enable more efficient treasury operations using blockchain rails and stablecoins.

Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard’s Executive Vice-President for Digital Assets and Blockchain Partnerships, said digital assets are evolving from experimental technologies to tools addressing real financial needs.

According to Raj, the industry is moving toward “practical, real-world needs like remittances, B2B payments and settlement.”

 

The Crypto Partner Program is structured as a collaboration platform where companies can design, test, and pilot blockchain-based financial products within Mastercard’s ecosystem.

Partners will be able to work together on product development, compliance reviews, and pilot programs that could eventually scale across MasterCard’s global payments infrastructure if they meet regulatory and operational requirements.

The initiative reflects a broader trend of traditional financial networks integrating blockchain technology to modernize payment systems and expand digital asset use cases in mainstream finance.

MasterCard Acquires CipherTrace to Support Firms in Crypto Security and Compliance

 

 

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A crypto investor accidentally turned about $50 million into just $36,000 after executing a faulty trade through a decentralized-finance interface, AAVE, highlighting the risks of large transactions on automated trading systems.

The trader attempted to swap a large position of $50 million on AAVE, a leading, decentralized non-custodial liquidity protocol that allows users to lend and borrow cryptocurrencies without intermediaries. The investor however executed the transaction with parameters that resulted in extreme slippage, effectively draining almost the entire value of the position in a single move.

The transaction left the wallet with roughly $36,000 from an initial $50 million, according to blockchain data publicly available here on EtherScan.

The trade triggered multiple slippage warnings on the interface before being confirmed. According to AAVE Founder, Stani Kulechov, the user manually accepted the warnings on a mobile device before completing the transaction.

Earlier today, a user attempted to buy AAVE using $50M USDT through the Aave interface.

Given the unusually large size of the single order, the Aave interface, like most trading interfaces, warned the user about extraordinary slippage and required confirmation via a checkbox.…

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) March 12, 2026

Slippage is the tolerance buffer on a market order: how much the final fill price can deviate from the quoted price due to market movement between signing and execution. On the AAVE interface, suggested slippage is algorithmically calculated from asset pair volatility and order size.

 

Commenting on the incident, Martin, an engineer at AAVE said:

“Since we offer both market orders (with adjustable slippage) and limit orders, our slippage and fee estimates are tuned for execution time. Users can always tighten it (or set limit amounts) and will typically get a surplus back thanks to @CoWSwap‘s auction mechanism.

In this case, the user sent a market order with the suggested 1.21% slippage. But the core issue wasn’t slippage, it was just the accepted quote with 99% price impact: As you can confirm it yourself on the CoW explorer, the order includes a quote field showing the original rate (50M USDT -> <140 AAVE) presented to the user before fees and slippage.

It was already a very bad rate.

All the interactions were also verified via internal analytics, and the user even received a 0.7% surplus, confirming the swap mechanics worked exactly as intended. Thanks to our open-source nature, anyone can reproduce this. So, the price impact warning was displayed.

The checkbox was checked, sadly.”

 

Large swaps in decentralized finance can dramatically move prices if liquidity is insufficient or if slippage limits are set too high, allowing the trade to execute at far worse prices than expected. In such cases, automated market makers execute the order anyway, redistributing value to liquidity providers and arbitrage traders.

In this incident, arbitrageurs extracted over $43 million in profit from the transaction.

The incident underscores the risks of executing oversized trades in DeFi markets without adequate safeguards or liquidity checks, where mistakes can instantly wipe out millions of dollars.

 

“While we’re working on stronger guardrails for all our users, we’ll always believe in permissionless DeFi,” said Martin.

 

2025 RECAP | How One of the Largest On-Chain Scam Losses in 2025 Happened

 

 

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Akuna Wallet has been admitted into the Bank of Ghana’s Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) regulatory sandbox marking a key milestone in the development of blockchain-based payment infrastructure aimed at African creators and freelancers.

REGULATION | Ghana Launches Crypto Regulatory Sandbox and Admits 6 Entities to ‘Validate Proposed Regulatory Frameworks’

The sandbox provides a supervised environment where fintech firms can test digital asset services while working directly with regulators before receiving full authorization. The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to bring emerging crypto and fintech innovations under a formal regulatory framework.

Through the pilot, Akuna Wallet plans to build payment rails that allow creators, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs to receive cross-border earnings faster and at lower cost. The company says many African creators lose a significant portion of their income to international payment fees and limited access to global payout systems.

REGULATION | Ghanaian Innovations Minister Engages Stellar Foundation on Akuna Wallet to Boost Creative Economy

Working within the central bank’s regulatory framework will allow the platform to refine its tools while ensuring compliance, transparency, and consumer protection as it develops new financial infrastructure for the continent’s growing digital workforce.

Built on the Stellar network, Akuna Wallet is designed to help users receive international payments, issue invoices, and convert funds into local currency via the blockchain. The broader goal is to enable African creators to access global platforms and monetize their work without relying on traditional intermediaries that often exclude local bank accounts.

 

“There are millions of creators across Africa building global audiences and generating real revenue. However, the financial system charges them on average more than 8% simply to access their earnings. This is not just a fee; it is a barrier. Akuna Wallet exists to remove it,” said Denelle Dixon, Akuna Wallet Co-Founder.

 

The move also comes as Ghana expands oversight of digital assets. The country recently launched sandbox programs and regulatory frameworks aimed at bringing a multi-billion-dollar informal crypto market into a supervised financial system while supporting innovation in fintech and Web3 payments.

If successful, participation in the sandbox could pave the way for a full license, allowing Akuna Wallet to scale its services across Ghana and potentially other African markets.

 

“You can’t build trusted financial infrastructure outside of regulatory frameworks. That is not how lasting systems are created.

Working within the Bank of Ghana’s sandbox is exactly how we intend to do this: transparently, collaboratively, and with accountability,” Dixon added.

REGULATION | Brij Fintech Begins Pilot for B2B Currency Swap Platform Between Kenya, Ghana, and Nigerian Currencies Under the Bank of Ghana Regulatory Sandbox

 

 

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_________________________________________

Stablecoin yield providers could ultimately increase the flow of capital into the U.S. banking system rather than drain it, according to Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Council of Advisors for Digital Assets.

The comment comes as policymakers debate whether interest-bearing stablecoins might pull deposits away from traditional banks.

 

“Foreigners exchange local currency for stablecoins from a US-based issuer,” Witt said in an X post on Wednesday, adding that “global demand for USD is massive.”

“That is net new capital entering the American banking system,” Witt said.

 

Witt argued that this is often ‘lost’ in the discussions around the GENIUS and CLARITY Act stating that that compliant stablecoins ‘will actually lead to deposit inflows.’

Most U.S. stablecoin issuers maintain reserves in U.S. dollars or U.S. Treasuries to back each token issued, meaning inflows into stablecoins can translate into additional demand for dollar-denominated assets held within the U.S. financial system.

CLARITY ACT | American Banks Need Regulatory Clarity More Than Crypto Companies, Says Former CFTC Chairman

 

 

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Young investors are increasingly turning to high-risk assets as traditional wealth paths feel out of reach.

A growing number of Gen Z investors are turning to cryptocurrencies, prediction markets and sports betting as they try to accelerate wealth creation, a trend some analysts describe as “financial nihilism.”

A survey by insurer Northwestern Mutual found that many young adults who feel financially “behind” are embracing riskier investments in hopes of catching up faster, rather than relying on conventional long-term strategies such as diversified portfolios or retirement funds.

About one-third of Gen Z respondents said they had invested in, or were considering investing in, sports betting or prediction markets – platforms where users wager on the outcomes of real-world events – alongside speculative assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Among investors participating in crypto, prediction markets or sports betting, roughly 73% said they were doing so because they felt behind on their financial goals and believed these vehicles could help them catch up, according to the study.

Prediction markets – which allow users to trade contracts tied to outcomes ranging from elections to geopolitical events – have surged in popularity alongside crypto trading, particularly among younger investors comfortable with digital platforms and rapid-fire speculation.

Financial advisers warn that while such assets can generate quick gains, they also carry significant risk. Experts say speculative investments should typically make up only a small portion of a portfolio, with long-term savings strategies remaining the foundation for financial security.

The trend reflects broader economic pressures on younger generations, including rising housing costs, student debt and uncertain job prospects, which have contributed to a sense that traditional paths to wealth are increasingly unattainable.

STATISTICS | Gen Z Powers 54% of Our Users in Africa, Reveals Binance

 

 

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South Korea’s tax authority is developing an artificial intelligence-powered system to track cryptocurrency investment gains as the country prepares to implement taxes on digital asset profits.

The National Tax Service (NTS) has issued a public tender for a platform that will analyze large volumes of crypto transaction data and identify taxable profits from trading activities. The project, valued at about $2 million, forms part of preparations for a long-delayed tax regime on virtual assets scheduled to take effect in January 2027.

Under the system, AI and machine-learning tools will scan blockchain and exchange data to detect

unusual trading patterns,

undeclared income, and

potential tax evasion

linked to cryptocurrency transactions.

Authorities say the platform will help manage and analyze vast datasets from digital asset markets more efficiently.

The NTS plans to select a contractor by the end of March 2026 with system design expected to begin in April 2026. Testing will run through the year followed by a pilot program in November 2026 and full deployment by late 2026, ahead of the tax rollout.

Once the tax framework begins, crypto gains above ~$1,800 will face a 22% tax rate, consisting of a 20% national tax and a 2% local tax.

The tracking system will also share analytical data with other government bodies including the Korea Customs Service and the Bank of Korea to strengthen oversight of the country’s fast-growing digital asset market and improve detection of hidden income.

TAXATION | What You Need to Know About the European Union (EU) New Crypto Tax Reporting Requirements

 

 

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The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has warned that cryptocurrency platforms operating offshore are creating growing risks for money laundering, sanctions evasion and other illicit financial activity, as regulators struggle to supervise cross-border digital asset firms.

In a new report titled “Understanding and Mitigating the Risks of Offshore Virtual Asset Service Providers (oVASPs)”, the global anti-money laundering watchdog said offshore crypto firms often exploit regulatory gaps between jurisdictions, allowing them to operate with limited oversight.

The FATF said such platforms can structure operations across multiple jurisdictions, for example by

incorporating in one country,

hosting infrastructure in another and

serving customers globally online

making it difficult for authorities to determine which regulator has supervisory responsibility.

According to the report, these gaps can weaken enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) rules, and in some cases limit cooperation between regulators and law enforcement agencies.

REGULATION | Bank of Ghana Cautions Public Against Dealing with African Crypto and Stablecoin On/Off-Ramp, Yellow Card

Regulatory Blind Spots

The FATF noted that many offshore virtual asset service providers offer services to users in countries where they have no physical presence or legal registration. This can leave authorities with limited visibility into their operations or the transactions they process.

Criminal actors may exploit these inconsistencies by routing transactions through lightly regulated jurisdictions or by using platforms that fall outside the scope of domestic licensing regimes.

The report said differences in supervisory frameworks across countries are often used to bypass compliance requirements.

REPORT | Money Laundering Through Cryptocurrencies Fell Substantially in 2023, Fiat Off-Ramping ‘Important in AML,’ Says Chainalysis

Chainalysis noted that fiat off-ramping services are important because they’re where criminals can convert their crypto into cash – ‘the… pic.twitter.com/zqXpSk2PDD

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) February 24, 2024

FATF Recommendations

To address the risks, the FATF urged governments to strengthen oversight of offshore crypto platforms that serve domestic users.

Identified measures for jurisdictions to mitigate risks include:

Detecting, licensing or registering oVASPs using activity-based approach;

Enforce sanctions for non-compliance with AML/CFT/CPF obligations;

Build a shared understanding and improve coordination through inter-agency task forces and public-private partnerships;

Use to the fullest extent possible supervisor to supervisor channels and FIU to FIU cooperation to speed up access to information and coordinate enforcement.

The recommendations form part of the FATF’s broader efforts to ensure countries apply its global standards on virtual assets and service providers, which aim to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes linked to digital assets.

The watchdog has also been increasing scrutiny of emerging risks in the crypto sector including stablecoins, decentralized finance and peer-to-peer transactions, as part of its ongoing global regulatory framework for digital assets.

The FATF says offshore crypto platforms operating across multiple jurisdictions create regulatory blind spots that criminals can exploit. The watchdog is urging countries to require licensing, strengthen supervision, and improve cross-border cooperation to close these gaps.

REGULATION | Singapore Orders Local Crypto Firms to Halt Overseas Activity by June 30 2025

The report identifies case studies that highlight innovative approaches to mitigating risks, including:

In a high-profile investment fraud scheme, analysis by Nigeria’s FIU identified how oVASPs and opaque corporate structures were used to facilitate large-scale fraud, cross-border movement of illicit proceeds, and financial obfuscation, with victim funds channelled through multiple intermediary “funnel addresses”. The analysis showed that offshore VASPs were used as final cash-out points. One global VASP-linked wallet held approximately USD 600 million at the time of analysis.

Indonesia’s FIU identified VA-based financial support to terrorist groups in Syria involving several foundations and individuals in Indonesia. Terrorist financiers were found to be using oVASPs to convert between different types of virtual assets and to rapidly cover their traces before funds were moved to unhosted wallets.

Nigerian supervisors (SEC), through the country’s FIU and the Egmont Group platform (FIU.net) obtained critical information from foreign counterparts on the beneficial ownership of oVASPs, allowing them to confirm criminal investigations involving suspected oVASP operators and identify real-world identities behind wallets flagged through blockchain analytics.

Following the introduction of clear rules for oVASPs promoting services to UK residents and to address persistent non-compliance by oVASPs, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has undertaken a series of enforcement and disruption measures, including driving the takedown of more than 1000 scam websites.

Strengthened multi‑agency coordination: New Zealand’s Virtual Assets Investigation Resource Group (VAIRG) and India’s multi‑agency VA Sub‑Group show how formal mechanisms for cross‑government coordination support knowledge‑sharing, identification of oVASPs, and more coherent supervisory and enforcement strategies.

Cross‑border supervisory and enforcement cooperation: Direct collaboration between the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority uncovered governance failures, unlicensed activities, and misuse of structures across jurisdictions, resulting in cancellation of registration, significant penalties, and sanctions on individuals.

Collaboration with social‑media and online service providers: India’s Sahyog portal demonstrates how structured channels with platforms enable quicker action against unlawful content, including the takedown of websites linked to unregistered oVASPs.

REGULATION | All Crypto Apps Targeting South Africans Must Be Registered with the Financial Intelligence Centre, Says Updated Google Play Policy

 

 

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Institutional digital asset trading technology provider Wyden has integrated South African crypto exchange VALR into its global liquidity network, expanding access to African digital asset markets for institutional clients.

The integration allows Wyden’s institutional users, including banks, brokers and asset managers, to directly access VALR’s liquidity pools, including some of the deepest South African rand (ZAR)-denominated crypto markets.

Through the connection, institutions can trade more than 100 digital assets available on VALR, including tokenized stocks, private credit products, and crypto asset bundles.

PRESS RELEASE | South African Crypto Exchange, VALR, Launches Crypto Bundles Starting with a Portfolio of the Top 10 Crypto Assets

The partnership combines Wyden’s automated trade lifecycle infrastructure, Smart Order Routing (SOR), and best-execution tools with VALR’s trading services spanning

spot markets,

margin trading,

perpetual futures, and

over-the-counter (OTC) liquidity.

According to the companies, the integration is designed to enable institutions to execute large trades more efficiently while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements in both Europe and South Africa.

PRESS RELEASE | South African Crypto Exchange, VALR, Granted Over-The-Counter Derivatives Provider and Financial Services Provider Licenses by FSCA

VALR operates under a license from South Africa’s financial regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

“South Africa represents a strategically vital market as we expand our global institutional footprint,” said Andy Flury, founder and board president of Wyden.

“By integrating VALR, we are providing our clients with access to the deepest liquidity in the region alongside a broad range of innovative digital asset products.”

MILESTONE | South African Leading Crypto Exchange, VALR, Doubles User Base in 2024 Surpassing 1 Million Users

VALR Co-Founder and CEO, Farzam Ehsani, said the partnership strengthens links between global institutional investors and Africa’s digital asset markets.

“This integration represents a major step in bridging global institutional demand with Africa’s deepest crypto liquidity,” Ehsani said.

“It reinforces VALR’s role as a key infrastructure and liquidity provider both across the continent and internationally.”

 

The partnership comes as South Africa increasingly positions itself as one of Africa’s most advanced regulatory hubs for digital assets with growing institutional participation in the sector.

_________

About Wyden

Wyden provides institutional infrastructure for digital asset trading, covering the full trade lifecycle including custody integration, portfolio management connectivity and automated execution systems. The company is headquartered in Zurich, with product hubs in Poland and offices in Singapore and New York.

EXPERT OPINION | ‘Its a Matter of Time Before Traditional and Crypto Finance Merge to Become the Future of Finance,’ Says CEO, VALR

 

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Crypto developer activity on GitHub has dropped to its lowest level in several years, as talent and attention shift toward the booming artificial intelligence sector, according to the latest data.

Data from Electric Capital shows that monthly active developers working on crypto projects fell sharply in early 2026, marking the lowest level since at least 2022. The decline coincides with a surge of interest in AI development, which has drawn engineers and open-source contributors away from blockchain projects.

Ethereum weekly active developer count fell 33% over 3 months.

Solana has shed 40% of developers

Base, the Ethereum L2, has seen a 52% drop in developers

Aptos has experience ~60% drop

BNB Chain developer activity has dropped by 85%

Celo developer actigity has dropped by 52%

REPORT | Nigeria Has the 3rd Largest Share of New Web3 Developers Globally in 2025, Says Latest Electric Capital Report

GitHub, the world’s largest software collaboration platform, has seen a rapid rise in repositories and tools related to artificial intelligence, particularly those involving

large language models,

autonomous coding agents and

machine-learning frameworks.

Industry analysts say the shift reflects where venture funding, job opportunities and developer experimentation are currently concentrated.

AI attracted roughly $211 billion in venture funding globally in 2025, compared with about $19.7 billion deployed into crypto startups during the same period, according to market data compiled by Crunchbase and PitchBook.

That funding imbalance is increasingly influencing developer priorities.

Some prominent engineers and ecosystem builders have already moved into AI-focused roles. Several senior crypto operators announced departures or career pivots earlier this year, with some joining firms building autonomous coding agents and other AI infrastructure.

“AI agents will make 1 million times more payments than humans, and they will use crypto.”

– @cz_binance, Founder, @binance pic.twitter.com/q5i1e65HFh

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 12, 2026

Despite the downturn in overall activity, experienced crypto developers appear to be sticking around.

Electric Capital’s latest developer report found that the number of established developers with more than two years of experience working in crypto actually rose about 27% year-over-year, even as the influx of new developers slowed.

The pattern mirrors previous crypto market cycles when casual contributors tend to leave during slower periods while core builders continue developing infrastructure.

REPORT | 4% of All Blockchain Developers Globally Are in Sub-Saharan Africa, Says 2023 Developer Report

Meanwhile, advances in AI-assisted programming are reshaping software development more broadly. New coding agents capable of autonomously generating code and submitting pull requests have seen rapid adoption across open-source projects, signaling a broader shift in how developers write and maintain software.

For crypto, the result is a temporary slowdown in development momentum as the technology sector’s attention swings toward AI though some industry leaders argue the two fields may ultimately converge.

They note that AI agents could increasingly rely on blockchain networks for payments, identity and verifiable data, potentially drawing developers back into crypto infrastructure over time.

EXPERT OPINION | Why AI Agents in Commerce Will Use Both Cards and Stablecoins

 

 

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The Central Bank of Kenya and the National Bank of Rwanda (which is the Central Bank of Rwanda), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which commits both regulators to develop a License Passporting Framework for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) between the two jurisdictions.

 

According to the joint press release:

“The License Passporting Framework (the Framework) will represent an important step towards addressing the challenge of duplicative regulatory processes despite substantial similarities in requirements.

By promoting mutual recognition of licensing regimes, the Framework will facilitate the responsible expansion of licensed PSPs across Kenya and Rwanda, while preserving robust regulatory oversight and supervisory cooperation.

This initiative is anchored on the East Africa Community Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan (EAC Masterplan), which sets out a clear vision for a more integrated, efficient, and inclusive regional payments landscape. A key priority under the EAC Masterplan is the development of a mutual recognition framework for the licensing of PSPs in partner states, aimed at addressing the regulatory fragmentation that has historically limited the expansion of payment services across our borders.”

Kenya and Rwanda just signed an MOU to allow for fintech license passporting! pic.twitter.com/sjZSiINw6a

— VII (@SaruniBM) March 11, 2026

The announcement received diverse feedback from different fintech players.

“This is an important step toward reducing regulatory fragmentation across African payment corridors. Greater interoperability between PSPs should significantly improve cross-border liquidity and settlement efficiency,” said Cornell Jones, a fintech governance architect.

 

Sidney Essendi, a systems lead, said:

“Regional payment integration will depend not only on infrastructure rails, but also on regulatory interoperability. Frameworks like this could meaningfully lower barriers for PSPs operating across East African markets.

A promising step for the ecosystem.”

 

License passporting has become a topic of interest across the continent over the last few years as the need for cross-border expansion, open banking, and tiered KYC frameworks broaden access to financial services.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, as part of its part of its latest report titled “Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria: Innovation, Inclusion, and Integrity”, highlighted Nigeria’s rising position as a major digital finance hub in Africa and the need for license passporting.

The Central Bank of Nigeria February 2026 report titled “Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria: Innovation, Inclusion, and Integrity”, highlights Nigeria’s rising position as a major digital finance hub in Africa.

To sustain the momentum, @cenbank outlined policy measures… pic.twitter.com/RM3BmJdftZ

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 12, 2026

The central bank said that by strengthening collaboration between regulators and innovators, Nigeria’s fintech sector can continue to be a driver of economic growth and a model for financial inclusion across the continent.

The latest announcement for license passporting in East Africa will likely spur similar initiatives across the continent as the benefits of such initiatives become more clear amidst other pan-African initiatives such as the Africa Continental Free-Trade Area (AfCTA).

AfCFTA | Fragmented Payment Systems Continue to Slow Intra-African Trade But West Africa Making Quicker Progress

 

 

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at coordinating oversight of financial markets, including cryptocurrencies, in an effort to reduce regulatory conflicts between the two agencies.

The agreement commits the regulators to closer collaboration through information sharing, joint oversight, and coordination on issues of ‘common regulatory interest,‘ as new technologies such as digital assets increasingly blur the traditional boundaries between securities and commodities markets.

In a joint statement, the agencies said evolving trading models, digital infrastructure and automated on-chain systems have made it more difficult to apply existing regulatory frameworks requiring a more unified approach to supervision.

SEC Chair, Paul Atkins, said the agreement was intended to ease long-standing jurisdictional tensions between the two regulators that have often complicated compliance for market participants. He added that overlapping rules and competing registrations had historically “stifled innovation” and pushed firms to operate in other jurisdictions.

 

“For decades, regulatory turf wars, duplicative agency registrations, and different sets of regulations between the SEC and CFTC have stifled innovation and pushed market participants to other jurisdictions,” said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins.

“This updated Memorandum of Understanding will serve as a roadmap for a new era of harmonization between the agencies – one that is critical to support U.S. leadership in this next chapter of financial innovation. By aligning regulatory definitions, coordinating oversight, and facilitating seamless, secure data sharing between agencies, we will ensure our rules and regulations deliver the clarity market participants deserve.”

REGULATION | U.S Regulators Set a Precedent Saying Capital Treatment for Tokenized Securities is ‘Technology Neutral’

Under the memo, the SEC and CFTC plan to coordinate regulatory policy, share supervisory findings and potentially conduct joint examinations of firms that fall under both agencies’ authority. The regulators also aim to clarify how digital assets are classified — a key issue determining whether the SEC or CFTC has primary oversight.

 

“America’s financial markets are the envy of the world because they scale and adapt to meet investor demands. Like our markets, the CFTC’s and SEC’s regulatory frameworks must also evolve and modernize to accommodate the needs of our market participants,” said CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig. “

This Memorandum of Understanding solidifies the agencies’ commitment to harmonize regulatory frameworks to provide comprehensive and seamless financial market oversight. By working together, we’ll eliminate duplicative, burdensome rules and close gaps in regulation for the benefit of all Americans and usher in a Golden Age of American finance.”

 

In conjunction with the MoU, the agencies created a Joint Harmonization Initiative to advance coordinated oversight and promote regulatory clarity in areas of common regulatory interest.

The initiative will support coordination across the policymaking, examination and enforcement functions of each agency, particularly for joint applications and shared policy efforts, including:

Clarifying product definitions through joint interpretations and rule-makings.

Modernizing clearing, margin, and collateral frameworks.

Reducing frictions for dually registered exchanges, trading venues, and intermediaries.

Providing a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets and other emerging technologies.

Streamlining regulatory reporting for trade data, funds, and intermediaries.

Coordinating cross-market examinations, economic analyses, risk monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement.

The Joint Harmonization Initiative will be co-led by Robert Teply (SEC) and Meghan Tente (CFTC).

 

The agencies said they would pursue what they called a “minimum effective dose” approach to regulation, seeking to foster innovation while maintaining market integrity and global competitiveness.

The move comes amid broader efforts by U.S. policymakers to provide clearer rules for the crypto sector and attract digital asset innovation to the United States.

CLARITY ACT | American Banks Need Regulatory Clarity More Than Crypto Companies, Says Former CFTC Chairman

 

 

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Wells Fargo, one of the leading banks in the United States, has filed a trademark application for ‘WFUSD,’ a name covering a range of cryptocurrency trading, payments and blockchain-related services, signaling the U.S. banking giant may be exploring deeper involvement in digital assets.

The application, submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, seeks protection for services including

cryptocurrency trading and exchange operations,

payment processing,

digital wallet management and

electronic transfers of virtual currencies

according to the filing.

The trademark also covers blockchain-based software tools that could enable

staking,

tokenization of assets,

smart contract data feeds and

authentication services

for decentralized applications.

REGULATION | Spot Ether ETF Applicants Commit to Not Staking $ETH Ahead of SEC Decision

While trademark filings do not necessarily lead to a product launch, the ‘USD’ suffix in WFUSD has prompted speculation that the bank may be considering a dollar-pegged digital asset or stablecoin, following naming conventions used by tokens such as USDC and USDT.

The move comes as large U.S. banks increasingly explore blockchain-based payment systems.

In 2025, firms including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo were reported to be discussing a potential joint stablecoin initiative aimed at competing with digital asset platforms.

Wells Fargo has previously experimented with blockchain technology through its internal ‘Digital Cash’ project designed to facilitate near real-time cross-border settlements within the bank’s network.

The WFUSD trademark application is currently awaiting review by a USPTO examining attorney.

REGULATION | Western Union Signals Strong Move to Offer Crypto Services

 

 

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A recent ruling by Tanzania’s High Court (Commercial Division) has strengthened the legal standing of cryptocurrency-related agreements offering one of the clearest judicial signals yet that crypto transactions can be enforceable under the country’s existing legal framework.

The decision, delivered in ‘Yellow Card Tanzania Ltd v. Nyamwero Michael Nyamwero, Case No. 12171 of 2024 (the Yellow Card Precedent’ centered on a contractual dispute linked to cryptocurrency transactions. The court ultimately ruled that the agreement between the parties remained valid and enforceable despite the absence of a specific regulatory framework governing cryptocurrencies in Tanzania.

Yellow Card Crypto and Gift Platform Enters Tanzania – Get Early Access

The Case: Yellow Card vs. Nyamwero

The dispute arose after Yellow Card Tanzania (the Plaintiff), a crypto payments company operating across Africa, accused the defendant of breaching a settlement agreement tied to crypto-related transactions.

According to court filings, Yellow Card sought to recover approximately $1.19 million, arguing that the defendant had failed to honour repayment obligations after misappropriating funds linked to the transaction.

One of the most significant legal issues before the High Court was the validity of the Deed of Settlement, given that the underlying business transactions involved cryptocurrency.

The Defendant (Nyamwero) argued that the Deed of Settlement was invalid because the Plaintiff ’s business involved cryptocurrency, which he claimed was illegal in Tanzania based on the BoT’s November 2019 public notice.

He contended that since the settlement amount stemmed from cryptocurrency activities, it was based on unlawful transactions and should be declared void.

The Plaintiff, however, maintained that while cryptocurrency is not regulated in Tanzania, there is no law expressly prohibiting its use.

The High Court ruled in favor of the company, affirming the validity of the settlement and ordering repayment of the outstanding amount with interest. Crucially, the court held that cryptocurrency transactions are not inherently illegal in Tanzania, meaning contracts involving them are not automatically invalid.

 

The High Court ruled in favor of the Plaintiff, emphasizing the following key principles:

• The validity of a contract is independent of whether the subject matter is regulated. The mere absence of a regulatory framework does not automatically render a contract invalid.

• Cryptocurrency is not inherently illegal in Tanzania. The court noted that service providers and users involved in cryptocurrency transactions are required to pay taxes under Tanzanian law.

• Virtual currencies only become unlawful if linked to cyber-money laundering or other illicit activities.

• Based on this reasoning, the Deed of Settlement was deemed valid, and the Defendant was found to be in breach of the agreement. Consequently, the court ordered the Defendant to pay the outstanding amount to the Plaintiff.

Pan-African Crypto Exchange, YellowCard, Secures $40 Million in Series B Funding Round 

Key Legal Finding: Crypto is Not Illegal

At the heart of the judgment was a question that has long hovered over Tanzania’s crypto ecosystem: whether agreements involving cryptocurrency can be recognized by courts.

The judge determined that while cryptocurrency regulation in Tanzania remains limited, the absence of explicit legislation does not render crypto transactions unlawful. As a result, contracts tied to such transactions can still be enforced under general contract law principles.

While the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) maintains that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender, the High Court’s ruling suggests that cryptocurrency transactions are not inherently unlawful, provided they comply with existing financial and taxation laws.

By affirming that the absence of regulation does not equate to illegality, the High Court’s decision creates a foundation for more nuanced conversations around the future of digital currencies in Tanzania.

This case demonstrates that cryptocurrencies although not regulated in Tanzania they are not illegal. It has created a precedent for consumer protection when it comes to enforcement of valid contracts under cryptocurrencies transactions. In Tanzania for a contract to be valid, it must adhere to the Laws of Contract Act which sets principles and elements of a valid contract.

Legal analysts say this interpretation effectively places crypto transactions within the broader framework of commercial law, meaning disputes involving digital assets can be resolved using existing legal doctrines such as breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

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

Why the Ruling Matters

The judgment has been widely described as a precedent-setting moment for Tanzania’s digital asset sector.

Legal commentary on the case notes that the court’s reasoning may help clarify how cryptocurrency activities fit into Tanzania’s broader legal system, particularly as regulators and policymakers consider how to approach the sector.

One notable aspect of the court’s reasoning was its acknowledgment that cryptocurrency-related transactions may still fall under existing financial and taxation laws, even without a dedicated crypto statute.

 

On a different thinking, the Court also used implied recognition of virtual currency through taxation laws to legitimize cryptocurrency transactions by stating:

“Now since the parties who are involved in digital money and digital assets have been paying tax under the taxation laws, their transactions cannot be declared illegal.”

 

This interpretation could have wider implications for crypto businesses operating in Tanzania, including exchanges, payment providers, and peer-to-peer trading platforms.

The judgment also underscores the necessity for businesses operating in the cryptocurrency space to ensure robust compliance with existing financial and tax obligations and highlights the need for continued judicial and administrative engagement as Tanzania navigates its approach to digital finance.

REGULATION | Tanzania Looking to Amend Income Tax Act to Boost Revenue By Taxing Income From Crypto Transactions

A Catalyst for Regulation?

The Yellow Card case is increasingly viewed as a catalyst for deeper regulatory discussions around digital assets in Tanzania.

Legal experts argue that the ruling exposes the growing gap between the country’s rapidly expanding crypto activity and its still-developing regulatory framework. The absence of clear rules has historically created uncertainty for investors, businesses, and financial institutions interacting with digital assets.

At the same time, crypto adoption continues to rise across Tanzania and the wider East African region, driven by demand for faster cross-border payments, alternative investment opportunities, and financial access for underbanked populations.

REPORT | Tanzania Witnessed a 250% Increase in Crypto Fraud, Reveals a H1 2023 Statistic

The case also highlights a broader trend across African jurisdictions: courts are increasingly stepping in to interpret crypto-related disputes in the absence of dedicated legislation.

Rather than declaring crypto unlawful, courts in several markets have begun treating digital asset transactions similarly to other commercial arrangements – meaning agreements remain binding so long as they meet standard contractual requirements.

For Tanzania, the Yellow Card precedent could ultimately serve as a bridge between the current regulatory ambiguity and a future formal framework for digital assets.

REGULATION | Why the Bank of Ghana Targeted Yellow Card with a Public Warning

 

 

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Bitcoin could reach $1 million per coin if it continues following the historical growth trajectory of gold, according to the Chief Investment Officer of asset manager, Bitwise.

The comparison hinges on Bitcoin gradually capturing a larger share of the global store-of-value market, a role long dominated by gold.

Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise, said the cryptocurrency’s long-term price potential becomes clearer when viewed against gold’s market capitalization and its historical adoption as a monetary asset. If Bitcoin were to match gold’s total market value, the implied price per coin would be roughly $1 million, he said.

 

“$1 million sounds crazy. It implies Bitcoin will rise 14x from today’s price.

When I joined crypto full-time in 2018, I used to hear people say that and laugh. At the time, Bitcoin was around $4,000, and $1 million sounded absurd – even to me.

I no longer see it that way. As I’ve spent more time studying the asset, I’ve realized that I was making a pretty basic mistake in analyzing Bitcoin’s opportunity.”

EXPERT OPINION | How Bitcoin Gets to $1 Million

“$1 million sounds crazy. It implies Bitcoin will rise 14x from today’s price.

I no longer see it that way.

As I’ve spent more time studying the asset, I’ve realized that I was making a pretty basic mistake in analyzing… pic.twitter.com/P6dGNrVchW

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 11, 2026

Gold’s market cap currently stands at around $15 trillion, while Bitcoin’s market value is only a fraction of that, leaving significant room for expansion if investors increasingly treat the cryptocurrency as a digital alternative to the precious metal.

Hougan cited institutional investment and growth with such instruments as

exchange-traded funds (ETFs),

sovereign wealth funds, and

portfolio allocations

as potential catalysts.

MARKET ANALYSIS | Bitcoin ETFs Represent ~6% of Bitcoin’s Overall Market Cap as of February 2026

Hougan argued that Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins and its growing institutional adoption make it well positioned to compete with gold as a global store of value. If the asset continues gaining traction among institutions and sovereign investors, he said, Bitcoin could follow a growth curve similar to gold’s rise over the past several decades.

The Bitwise executive noted that Bitcoin’s path toward such valuations would likely take years and depend on

sustained demand from investors,

regulatory clarity, and

broader integration into global financial markets.

Still, he emphasized that the comparison with gold offers a useful framework for understanding Bitcoin’s long-term potential, suggesting that a seven-figure price per BTC is “plausible” if the asset continues to mature as a macro store of value.

REPORT | 80% of AI Agents Choose Bitcoin as a Long-Term Store of Value

 

 

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_________________________________________

Bitcoin could reach $1 million per coin if it continues following the historical growth trajectory of gold, according to the Chief Investment Officer of asset manager, Bitwise.

The comparison hinges on Bitcoin gradually capturing a larger share of the global store-of-value market, a role long dominated by gold.

Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise, said the cryptocurrency’s long-term price potential becomes clearer when viewed against gold’s market capitalization and its historical adoption as a monetary asset. If Bitcoin were to match gold’s total market value, the implied price per coin would be roughly $1 million, he said.

 

“$1 million sounds crazy. It implies Bitcoin will rise 14x from today’s price.

When I joined crypto full-time in 2018, I used to hear people say that and laugh. At the time, Bitcoin was around $4,000, and $1 million sounded absurd – even to me.

I no longer see it that way. As I’ve spent more time studying the asset, I’ve realized that I was making a pretty basic mistake in analyzing Bitcoin’s opportunity.”

EXPERT OPINION | How Bitcoin Gets to $1 Million

“$1 million sounds crazy. It implies Bitcoin will rise 14x from today’s price.

I no longer see it that way.

As I’ve spent more time studying the asset, I’ve realized that I was making a pretty basic mistake in analyzing… pic.twitter.com/P6dGNrVchW

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 11, 2026

Gold’s market cap currently stands at around $15 trillion, while Bitcoin’s market value is only a fraction of that, leaving significant room for expansion if investors increasingly treat the cryptocurrency as a digital alternative to the precious metal.

Hougan cited institutional investment and growth with such instruments as

exchange-traded funds (ETFs),

sovereign wealth funds, and

portfolio allocations

as potential catalysts.

MARKET ANALYSIS | Bitcoin ETFs Represent ~6% of Bitcoin’s Overall Market Cap as of February 2026

Hougan argued that Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins and its growing institutional adoption make it well positioned to compete with gold as a global store of value. If the asset continues gaining traction among institutions and sovereign investors, he said, Bitcoin could follow a growth curve similar to gold’s rise over the past several decades.

The Bitwise executive noted that Bitcoin’s path toward such valuations would likely take years and depend on

sustained demand from investors,

regulatory clarity, and

broader integration into global financial markets.

Still, he emphasized that the comparison with gold offers a useful framework for understanding Bitcoin’s long-term potential, suggesting that a seven-figure price per BTC is “plausible” if the asset continues to mature as a macro store of value.

REPORT | 80% of AI Agents Choose Bitcoin as a Long-Term Store of Value

 

 

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_________________________________________

Australia’s financial regulator should not treat crypto as a separate asset class when applying financial rules, according to the Head of Fintech at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

In an expert opinion paper, the regulator’s fintech chief said digital assets should generally be assessed under existing financial frameworks rather than regulated as an entirely new category of assets.

The comments come as policymakers worldwide debate how to oversee digital assets, with some jurisdictions creating bespoke crypto regimes while others rely on existing financial laws.

ASIC has generally taken the position that many crypto-related services can already fall under Australia’s financial services framework depending on how they are structured, particularly where they resemble derivatives, managed investment schemes or other regulated financial products.

 

“The rapid expansion of digital assets has intensified debates concerning the adequacy of existing financial regulatory frameworks.

Crypto-assets, stablecoins, tokenised securities and decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms are frequently described as unprecedented innovations that undermine the conceptual foundations of financial services law. In policy discourse, this framing has encouraged calls for bespoke regulatory architectures designed specifically for blockchain-based technologies, often on the assumption that existing regulatory categories are incapable of accommodating decentralised or tokenised forms of value.

I challenge that narrative.

I argue that digital assets largely represent new technological instances of longstanding financial activities.

While the mechanisms of issuance, transfer and record-keeping have changed, the underlying economic functions served by these instruments have not. Financial history demonstrates that regulatory systems have repeatedly adapted to technological change – from paper instruments to electronic records – without abandoning foundational principles such as consumer protection, market integrity and systemic stability.”

EXPERT OPINION | Crypto Regulation Focus Should Be on the Economic Function, Not the Delivery Technology – Australian Regulator

The fintech expert goes on to highlight the risks of making this policy error of ‘confusing technological novelty with economic novelty.’

“Similar claims were made during the initial emergence of e-commerce, dematerialisation of securities, the rise of electronic payments, and the emergence of complex securities and derivatives.

In each case, regulators and policymakers ultimately responded not by discarding existing legal frameworks, but by extending and adapting them to new products and services, and new forms of intermediation.

The central argument is that digital assets should be regulated primarily by reference to economic substance rather than technological form.

This approach is consistent with Australian financial services law, comparative jurisprudence, and emerging international regulatory standards. By situating digital assets within the broader evolution of financial regulation, this paper argues that continuity, rather than exceptionalism, provides the most coherent and resilient regulatory response in the digital economy.”

CASE STUDY | How Spain’s Largest Crypto Exchange Pivot from Retail to Infrastructure for Banks and Law Enforcement is Proving Successful

Regulators in Australia have been increasingly active in the sector, including legal action against crypto firms offering yield-style products without appropriate licensing and the rollout of new guidance for digital asset businesses.

The fintech chief said the key question for regulators should remain what the product does, not the technology it uses – a principle ASIC believes can provide clearer oversight as digital asset markets evolve.

Looking at the enduring functions of financial services, the expert agues that financial systems generally exist to perform three core economic functions:

Capital allocation

Payments, and

Risk management

These functions have remained stable across time and across very different social, institutional and technological contexts.

Capital allocation involves the mobilisation of savings and their deployment into productive investment.

Payment systems facilitate the exchange and settlement of value across space (e.g. traditional payments) and time (e.g. trade finance).

Risk management enables individuals and firms to manage uncertainty through insurance, derivatives and other risk-transfer arrangements so that the risks are allocated to those who are best able to bear them.

EXPLAINER | How $123 Million in Australia was Laundered Through Legit Business – Lessons for Regulators

 

 

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Britain’s government has warned that cryptocurrencies are becoming an increasing factor in fraud and scams as part of a new national strategy to combat financial crime, highlighting the role of digital assets in online investment fraud schemes.

In its Fraud Strategy 2026–2029, the UK government said fraud has become the country’s largest category of crime, accounting for about 45% of offences in England and Wales, with around one in 14 adults falling victim in the year to September 2025. The total economic cost of fraud reached £14.4 billion ($18.4 billion) in 2023–2024, according to the report.

The strategy identifies emerging technologies, including cryptocurrencies, as shaping the next wave of financial crime noting that digital assets are now part of everyday digital activity but are also used by criminals in investment scams and fraud schemes.

The government said it will invest more than £250 million between 2026 and 2029 to implement the strategy, which aims to disrupt fraud networks, strengthen enforcement and improve cooperation between government, police and private-sector platforms.

Among the initiatives is the creation of a public-private Online Crime Centre to share intelligence and coordinate responses to online scams, alongside expanded public awareness campaigns such as “Stop! Think Fraud.”

Authorities say the plan also involves strengthening reporting mechanisms, improving cross-border cooperation and increasing law-enforcement capabilities to track digital-asset related crime.

Fraud has grown rapidly in recent years as more financial activity moves online, with the government warning that criminals are increasingly exploiting technologies ranging from social media platforms to digital payment systems and cryptocurrencies to target victims.

The strategy forms part of Britain’s broader effort to tighten oversight of financial crime and modernise its response to online fraud, which officials say threatens both economic security and public trust in the financial system.

REGULATION | Over $2 Billion in Suspicious Crypto Transactions Shake West Africa – SEC Nigeria Calls for Regional Regulatory Cooperation

 

 

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The Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC Ghana) has officially announced the firms selected to participate in its Virtual Asset Regulatory Sandbox, marking a key step in the country’s effort to establish a formal regulatory framework for digital assets.

In a press release, SEC Ghana said the sandbox initiative is part of the implementation of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154) and is designed to allow selected companies to test crypto-related products and services under regulatory supervision.

The press release announcing participants in the Ghana SEC Virtual Asset Regulatory Sandbox lists the following firms:

AFRICOIN

BLU PENGUIN

GOLDBOD

HANYPAY

HYRO EXCHANGE GH LTD

HSB GLOBAL

KOINKOIN

WHITEBITS

VAULTA

XCHAIN

BSYSTEM LTD

These companies were selected by the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to test virtual asset–related products and services under the sandbox framework established under the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154).

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

According to the regulator, the sandbox provides a controlled environment where innovative virtual asset solutions can be piloted while maintaining safeguards for investor protection, market integrity, and compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.

The SEC noted that the programme will enable it to

assess emerging technologies,

operational risks, and

new business models

in the digital asset sector before issuing full licenses.

The sandbox framework covers several categories of virtual asset activities, including:

Virtual asset exchanges and trading platforms

Virtual asset issuance

Tokenization services

Virtual asset exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Virtual asset management

Brokerage and investment advisory services

Virtual asset mining and validation linked to securities.

The regulator said insights gathered during the sandbox phase will help shape Ghana’s long-term licensing and regulatory policies for the digital asset industry.

The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader strategy to support financial innovation while ensuring the capital markets remain transparent, secure, and compliant with global regulatory standards.

The SEC said further information about the sandbox programme and application process can be obtained through its official website or by contacting the commission directly.

REGULATION | Ghana Launches Crypto Regulatory Sandbox and Admits 6 Entities to ‘Validate Proposed Regulatory Frameworks’

 

 

 

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Fragmented payment systems across Africa continue to slow the growth of intra-continental trade, forcing businesses to navigate costly and complex cross-border transactions despite the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Different countries across the continent have adopted separate payment infrastructures and regulatory approaches, creating interoperability challenges that complicate the movement of money between markets.

 

“We have seen different markets adopting different approaches. Some have for instance embraced a central bank-led framework while others have frameworks led by commercial banks,” said Makabelo Malumane, Head of Transactional Banking for Kenya and East Africa at Standard Chartered.

 

The lack of a unified payment platform means many cross-border transactions still rely on multiple intermediaries or foreign correspondent banks, adding delays and raising the cost of doing business across African markets.

Analysts say these structural gaps remain a key barrier to unlocking the full potential of AfCFTA, which aims to boost trade between African economies.

PAPSS | Africa Cannot Fully Integrate its Economies While Relying on Foreign Currencies for Trade, Says Ghanaian President

According to Malumane, some regions are moving faster than others in addressing these bottlenecks.

“The Nigeria-Ghana corridor seems to be making quicker progress with West Africa generally being the first movers while East and Southern Africa are still catching up,” he said.

 

Africa’s fragmented payment landscape stems from the way national financial systems developed independently, leaving countries with

differing currencies,

regulatory regimes and

settlement networks.

These differences often force businesses to hold multiple bank accounts or route payments through global financial centres, increasing transaction costs and settlement times.

Efforts are underway to improve interoperability across the continent, including regional payment initiatives designed to allow businesses to settle cross-border transactions more efficiently and, in some cases, in local currencies.

Analysts say such infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of African trade integration.

5 of Africa’s Largest Banks Sign Up to Use the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)

 

 

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_______________________________