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VALR’s Ehsani Warns Crypto Curbs Could Reduce Regulatory Oversight
9.8.2026
VALR co-founder and CEO Farzam Ehsani warned that South Africa’s proposed cross-border crypto regulations could severely harm the local digital asset sector, stifle innovation, and drive capital offshore. Corporate Limits and Illicit Flow Risks South Africa’s new proposed cross-border...
Luno Eliminates 20% of Global Workforce as Automation Changes Crypto Exchange Priorities
30.7.2026
Crypto exchange Luno is reducing its global workforce by 20%, though the exact number of impacted employees—including those in South Africa—has not been disclosed. Second Wave of Layoffs Cryptocurrency exchange Luno is cutting 20% of its global workforce and reorganizing its operations into three...
Luno Pushes South Africa to Rewrite Crypto Rules Through Parliament, Not Proclamation
16.7.2026
Luno has formally challenged South Africa’s proposed capital flow regulations, which aim to place digital assets under a modernized exchange control regime. Strict Enforcement and Steep Penalties Cryptocurrency exchange Luno has launched a formal challenge against a proposed overhaul of South...
Cape Town Expands Crypto Fraud Fight as Police Seize Luxury Cars With Fake Plates
13.7.2026
South African mayor recently joined the metro police in a targeted night operation to impound luxury vehicles driven by self-proclaimed cryptocurrency and forex “traders” operating with fake or missing registrations. Luxury Seizures and Social Media Lures A crackdown on unregistered luxury vehicles...
SARS Pushes New Crypto Tax Rules for 6 Million Users as Audits Ramp up Across South Africa
5.7.2026
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has published its guidance on the taxation of crypto assets to standardize compliance for an estimated 6 million local users. SARS Targets Six Million Users The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released guidance on the taxation of crypto assets,...
South African Reserve Bank Backs Payshap Over Digital Rand as Cassim Targets Real-Time Payments
11.6.2026
The South African Reserve Bank has decided to pause the immediate implementation of a digital rand despite successfully testing its technical feasibility. Digital Rand Trials Reveal Privacy and Speed Tradeoffs The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has no compelling need to immediately launch...
Luno CEO James Lanigan Warns $33T Stablecoin Boom Could Bypass South Africa
11.6.2026
Luno CEO James Lanigan warned that South Africa’s proposed Capital Flow Management Regulations could severely harm the country’s economic competitiveness by restricting stablecoin use. Lanigan Warns of Competitiveness Risk South Africa risks severely undermining its global economic competitiveness...
Trader Loses 1,680 BTC Fight as South African Court Classifies Bitcoin as Capital
3.6.2026
A South African High Court ruled that bitcoin can be legally treated as “capital” and a “negotiable instrument” (a form of money) because it holds value, is used for speculation, and is accepted by merchants. The Catalyst: Seizure of 1,680 Bitcoins A South African High Court has ruled that bitcoin...
South Africa Rules out Foreign Stablecoins as Payment Tools to Curb Dollarization
2.6.2026
South African financial regulators have clarified that cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are not legal tender. Crypto Still Excluded From Legal Tender Status South African regulators have reiterated that cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are neither money as defined in the country’s National Payments...
Economist Dawie Roodt Warns South Africans May Drop Local Currency as Crypto Rules Tighten
27.5.2026
A South African economist warns that the National Treasury’s proposed crypto regulations are an unenforceable attempt at state control that will ultimately backfire. The Push Toward Decentralized Tech South Africa’s continued reliance on exchange controls will push citizens toward cryptocurrencies...
South African Treasury Extends Crypto Rule Deadline to June 30 After Backlash
21.5.2026
South Africa’s National Treasury and central bank have assured the crypto industry that proposed capital-flow regulations will not criminalize digital asset ownership or apply retrospectively. Modernizing Exchange Controls South Africa’s National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank have...
MTI Liquidators Face 9,441 Claims as $35.8M Estate Shrinks Before Payouts
14.5.2026
Liquidators of Mirror Trading International, a massive South African crypto pyramid scheme, have received over 9,441 claims totaling nearly $395 million. Shrinking Assets and Rising Legal Costs Liquidators overseeing the collapse of Mirror Trading International (MTI), once described as South...
From Speculation to Stability: Discovery Bank Report Reveals 7.8M South Africans Now Invest in Crypto
27.4.2026
A new report by Discovery Bank and Visa highlights a major shift in South Africa’s financial landscape, as cryptocurrency matures from a speculative trend into a mainstream investment class. Key Takeaways: Discovery Bank and Visa report that 7.8 million South Africans now treat crypto as...
South Africa Crypto Draft Triggers 1M Rand Fine Warning From Valr CEO
26.4.2026
Industry leaders and financial experts have issued a sharp rebuke of the South African National Treasury’s Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026, calling the proposal a regressive move that mirrors apartheid-era economic controls. Key Takeaways: National Treasury draft replaces 1961 rules...
Declare Your Crypto or Face Jail: South Africa’s Aggressive New Capital Flow Rules
23.4.2026
South Africa’s proposed capital flow management regulations 2026 introduce strict new requirements for travelers entering or leaving South Africa with cryptocurrency. Key Takeaways South African Treasury draft rules require visitors to declare crypto or face up to 5 years in prison. New 2026...
From Blackouts to Bitcoin: South African Power Utility’s Surreal Pivot to High-Intensity Power Sales
12.3.2026
Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, is reversing its previous stance by targeting high-intensity energy consumers, specifically bitcoin mining companies. Nyati announced plans to sell excess electricity generated during the day due to increased solar power usage. The Solar Paradox In...
South African Economist Flags Authoritarian Risks in CBDCs
8.3.2026
Economist Dawie Roodt has issued a warning that central bank digital currencies could become tools for authoritarian control due to their “programmable” nature. The Authoritarian Risk South African economist Dawie Roodt warned that central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, could become instruments...
South Africa Tax Collector Deploys New Tech to Track Crypto and Offshore Assets
2.3.2026
South African crypto-asset service providers must now transmit detailed transaction data directly to the revenue collector, allowing for precise automated reconciliation and targeted audits. The End of the ‘Offshore Shield’ The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has, since March 1, used its most...
South Africa Moves to Bring Cryptocurrencies Under Capital Flow Controls
26.2.2026
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced plans to end the country’s crypto regulatory vacuum by drafting new rules to integrate digital assets into the national capital flow management regime. Closing the Regulatory Vacuum South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana...
South African Firms Launch a Local Currency-Backed Stablecoin
5.2.2026
A consortium of South African firms has launched ZAR Universal (ZARU), a blockchain-based stablecoin pegged to the local currency. Transparency and Reserve Management A consortium of South African financial and fintech firms—Luno, Sanlam Specialised Asset Management, Easyequities, and Lesaka—has...