Report: Number of African Cryptocurrency Users up by Nearly 2,500%

The number of cryptocurrency users in Africa grew by almost 2,500% between January 2021 and January 2022, while the average number of monthly transactions went up by 1,400%, a new report by Kucoin has said. Widespread Adoption of Cryptocurrencies According to a new report by crypto exchange Kucoin, the number of cryptocurrency users in Africa … Read more

Bahrain Central Bank Completes Cross-Border Transfer Test Using JPMorgan Blockchain

The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), working in partnership with Bank ABC, recently announced it had successfully tested the transfer of funds across borders using JPMorgan’s JPM Coin. The test fulfills the central bank’s goal of creating safe and efficient settlement solutions for customers. Eliminating Inefficiencies in the Cross-Border Payment Arena With CBDCs Bahrain’s central … Read more

Kenyan Central Bank Document Discusses Benefits and Risks Posed by CBDC — Public Asked to Comment

Kenya’s central bank has acknowledged in a recently released document that a central bank digital currency could potentially benefit the country’s financial system. The bank, however, warned that rolling out a CBDC could also pose risks to the same. CBDC’s Impact on Financial Stability The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has suggested in a discussion … Read more

UAE Based Money Transfer Firm Announces Partnership With Ripplenet

Al Fardan Exchange, a money transfer firm, has joined up with Ripplenet in a deal that will see the company use the Ripplenet blockchain when sending funds across national borders. Al Fardan’s Reasons for Joining Ripple A United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based money transfer platform, Al Fardan Exchange, has partnered with Ripple in a deal in … Read more

New Payment System Seeking to Bolster Intra-African Trade Goes Live

A new continent-wide payment system that seeks to strengthen African fiat currencies, as well as to boost intra-Africa trade, recently went live. Discussions about onboarding more African countries are still ongoing. SMEs the Main Beneficiaries of the Payment System A new African payment system, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), recently went live in … Read more

Kenya Central Bank Governor on CBDC: It’s About Getting It Right Rather Than Being First

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor, Patrick Njoroge, has said his institution is currently exploring the use of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) to settle cross-border payments. Njoroge however insists the bank’s priority is getting it right rather than being the first. CBK’s Approach According to a report by the Kenyan Wallstreet, Njoroge — … Read more

Kenyan Fintech Player: ‘Banking the Unbanked’ Is the Most Important Use Case for Digital Currencies in Africa

The year 2020 may well go down as the year when blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, in particular, gained mainstream recognition. The restrictions on movement, as well as the widespread fear of catching a virus, forced many to look for alternative ways of making payments or sending remittances. This search for an alternative inevitably led many … Read more

New Bank of America Report Says Digital Currencies ‘Could Boost Economic Growth’ in Developing Countries

A new Bank of America (BOA) research study has found that both central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and private digital currencies hold “a lot of potential” for increasing financial inclusion in developing countries. In the report, the bank also argues that such “digital currencies could reduce transaction costs and allow more economic activities in emerging … Read more

IMF Cautions Central Banks May Have to Rethink What Constitutes Reserves

The IMF warns that central banks may have to rethink what constitutes their reserve currency holdings. In a recent study, the global lender points to the changing geopolitical landscape, technological advances and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as events likely to influence the composition of reserves. Advances in Financial Technologies In addition to the … Read more

Thailand’s Largest Bank Snubs Ripple – Selects Stellar-based Blockchain for Cross Border Remittances

In an apparent snub to Ripple, Thailand’s oldest bank, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is set to open a new cross border remittances corridor in partnership with Lightnet, a fintech company that uses the Stellar blockchain. SCB says the partnership opens the door for more efficient cross border funds transfer from South Korea to Thailand. Before … Read more