Search
IMF Says Nigerian CBDC Drawing Global Interest, Warns of Associated Risks
18.11.2021
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged that the recently launched Nigerian central bank digital currency (CBDC) is attracting interest from many institutions globally, including central banks. Still, the fund warns that the CBDC carries risks for monetary policy implementation...
Nearly 500,000 Nigerian CBDC Wallets Downloaded Since Launch
17.11.2021
Nearly half a million e-naira wallets have been downloaded a few weeks after the central bank digital currency (CBDC) was officially launched by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, the central bank has said. E-Naira’s Initial Trade Volumes In addition to the 488,000 wallets that have been...
B2B firms want cross-border payments but skeptical of crypto: Survey
12.11.2021
Only 2% of B2B firms have adopted crypto payments so far, while 59% indicated no intention to accept it, one survey says
Digital Euro Should Be Attractive But Not ‘Too Successful,’ ECB’s Panetta Says
7.11.2021
The digital euro should be an attractive means of payment but its design should prevent it from becoming so successful as a store of value that it threatens banks and private money, according to Fabio Panetta, a high-ranking executive at the European Central Bank. Panetta stressed that both this...
African Fintech Giant Raises $150 Million in Funding Round Led by FTX, Firm Now Valued at Over $2 Billion
4.11.2021
Chipper Cash, one of Africa’s biggest fintechs, recently concluded a Series C extension funding round in which it raised $150 million, a report by Techcrunch has revealed. New Investors Participate in Latest Round According to the report, this latest funding round — which was led...
‘Bitcoin Is Worth Zero’ — Kenyan Communication Strategist Warns African Investors to Be Wary
2.11.2021
A Kenyan communications strategist, Mwotia Ciugu, has told African investors to be wary of investing in bitcoin which he claims is worth zero. Bitcoin Structurally Incapable of Delivering on Its Promise In an op-ed published by The Elephant, Ciugu insists bitcoin (BTC) is structurally incapable...
IMF Partly Blames Uncertainty in Nigeria’s Forex Market for Drop in Remittances
26.10.2021
The uncertainty that prevails in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market is partly to blame for the plunge in cross-border remittances into the country, an official with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. Covid-19 Another Contributing Factor According to a report by local news outlet...
Tron Partnering With Sony Interactive Entertainment to Enhance Blockchain Gaming Experience
15.10.2021
PRESS RELEASE. SAN FRANCISCO – October 15, 2021 – TRON, one of the largest blockchain-based operating systems in the world, is announcing an upcoming partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment today. Tron will provide the gaming company with its blockchain and expertise to enable...
Moneygram Partners With Stellar Development Foundation to Allow Users to Make Remittances With USD Coin
8.10.2021
Moneygram, one of the leaders in the cross-border payments and remittances market, has partnered with the Stellar Development Foundation to use the Stellar blockchain for settlements. The company will use the native version of USD coin (USDC), a popular stablecoin, to simplify and accelerate...
Nigerians Optimistic CBDC Will Improve Payments and Help Promote Cryptocurrencies
7.10.2021
Nigerians are hopeful the planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), also known as the e-naira, is going to enhance cross-border payments and make it “easier for the naira to be widely used and accepted.” E-Naira Launch a Boon for Cryptos In fact, according to a VOA report, some...
IMF: Issue CBDCs, Improve Cross-border Payments to Counter Crypto’s ‘Phenomenal Growth’
4.10.2021
a dedicated chapter, and suggested that economic leaders fight back against crypto – by issuing their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).In an accompanying blog post, the IMF
‘Faster and Cheaper Cross-Border Transfers’ — Banking Report Led by BIS Highlights the Benefits of Cryptocurrency
30.9.2021
According to a report published by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) and a group of central banks, digital currencies can lead to faster settlement and cheaper transfers. Moreover, the banking group leveraged a prototype that shows how money transfers can be done in seconds with very...
CBDCs could cut cross border remittance costs by half: BIS report
28.9.2021
The BIS report based on a multi-CBDC pilot also showed significant improvements in international remittance speed
Kenyan Fintech Player: ‘Banking the Unbanked’ Is the Most Important Use Case for Digital Currencies in Africa
28.9.2021
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...
Chipper Cash Extends Peer-to-Peer Money Transfer Service to South Africa
27.9.2021
Chipper Cash, an African fintech start-up, has extended its peer-to-peer instant money service to South Africa. In addition to being able to use the remittance service, South African users will be able to buy, sell, and transfer cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ethereum, and the USDC stablecoin....
Bhutan Partners With Ripple to Pilot Digital Ngultrum on a Private Ledger
25.9.2021
The Central Bank of Bhutan, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), has partnered with Ripple to start testing a model of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) using Ripple’s technology. The test will be using Ripple’s own CBDC private ledger, to support similar use cases. The pilot...
Fintech Firm Centbee Graduates From South African Regulatory Sandbox
24.9.2021
Fintech firm Centbee recently announced it has successfully completed the testing of its cross-border remittance application, Minit Money. The testing of the application was carried out within the framework of the South African Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group (IFWG)’s regulatory...
P2P Platforms, Cross-border Transactions Drive African Crypto Markets
15.9.2021
sts said, pointing to the inclusion of Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania in the top 20 countries of its Global Crypto Adoption
Nigeria’s CBDC ‘a Safer Option’ Than Privately Issued Cryptocurrencies: Central Bank Official
14.9.2021
As part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s digital currency charm offensive, Folashodun Shonubi, the institution’s deputy governor, has claimed that the country’s upcoming central bank digital currency (CBDC) will be a “safer option from privately issued...
Zimbabwean Minister Says Cryptocurrency Based Solutions ‘Could Lower Charges for Diaspora Remittances’
12.9.2021
The Zimbabwean minister of finance, Mthuli Ncube, has once again talked up the potential advantages of using cryptocurrencies. In new comments made shortly after visiting the DMCC Crypto Centre in Dubai, Ncube raises the possibility that the country might use cryptocurrency-based solutions to lower...