Zimbabwe Plans to ‘Float’ Rapidly Depreciating Gold-Backed Currency

Zimbabwe has said it plans to let its rapidly depreciating gold-backed currency, Zig, float freely on the foreign exchange market. A central bank official said this would help the currency achieve price discovery without administrative interference. However, the official did not give a timeline for when the central bank intends to implement this policy. Since … Read more

Nigeria’s Currency Plunges as Dollar Liquidity Dries Up: Will a Naira-for-Crude Oil Swap Revive It?

The Nigerian naira recently hit a new low against the U.S. dollar, ranking among the three worst-performing currencies globally. Dollar Liquidity Dries up The Nigerian naira, which has already lost over 70% of its value in 2024, recently dropped to a record low of NGN1,670.65 per U.S. dollar on the official foreign exchange market on … Read more

World Bank: Nigeria Loses $8B on Foreign Exchange Subsidies Over 3 Years

The World Bank reports that Nigeria lost over $8 billion due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) refusal to float the naira between 2021 and 2023. This foreign exchange subsidy, along with the fuel subsidy, deprived the government of revenue. The World Bank acknowledges the suffering caused by the government’s policies but insists they … Read more

Nigeria Receives Nearly $100,000 From Unlicensed Crypto Firms

The Nigerian government received nearly $100,000 from two cryptocurrency firms accused of conducting unlicensed conversions of tether (USDT) to naira and vice versa. The two Nigerian cryptocurrency firms, Paparaxy Global Ventures Limited and Lemskin Technologies Limited were accused of operating without a banking license. Plea Agreement The Nigerian Federal Government recently received nearly $100,000 (NGN160 … Read more

Nigeria Injects $543.5M to Shore up Naira

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $543.5 million into the Nigerian foreign exchange market between September 6th and 30th to address currency volatility. The bank attributed the volatility to high demand for imports and seasonal factors. Nigeria is facing foreign exchange shortages and the government has taken various steps to counter it, including restricting … Read more

Nigeria Introduces System to Boost Forex Market Transparency

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is launching a new electronic system (EFEMS) to improve transparency in the foreign exchange market. This comes as the Nigerian currency weakens. Authorized dealers must comply with existing regulations and complete necessary preparations before using EFEMS. Enhancing Transparency in the Foreign Exchange Market The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) … Read more

Inflation, Dollar Shortage Fuel Stablecoin Use in Sub-Saharan Africa

Stablecoins are surging in popularity across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 43% of crypto transactions compared to bitcoin’s 18.1%. This trend is driven by the instability of local currencies and limited access to US dollars. Businesses and individuals view stablecoins as a reliable way to store value and conduct international payments. Stablecoins as a Store of … Read more

Ghana Launches Gold Coin Priced in Local Currency

Ghana’s central bank launched a gold coin to boost domestic savings and manage liquidity. The coins are available in October and priced based on the London Bullion Market Association auction price. Despite efforts to strengthen the cedi, Ghana’s currency continues to depreciate against the U.S. dollar. Gold Coins Priced in Local Currency Ghana has launched … Read more

Zimbabwe Devalues Gold-Backed Currency by 44%

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has devalued the Zimbabwe Gold (Zig) by 44%, causing the currency to plummet from 13.98 to 24.3 against the U.S. dollar. This drastic move addresses rising exchange rate volatility and inflationary pressures that have plagued the economy since August. According to RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu, the decision was necessary … Read more

Nigerian Currency Plunges After Central Bank Rate Hike

The Nigerian Naira weakened significantly against the U.S. dollar following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to hike interest rates for the fifth time this year. The naira dropped to NGN1,658 per dollar on the official foreign exchange market after the CBN increased the benchmark lending rate by 50 basis points. On the parallel … Read more