Author: Louis Dike
Louis Dike
Louis Dike is the Publisher of Coinafrica, leveraging years of experience driving growth for global exchanges like Bybit, Bitget, and VTrader across Africa. A former Binance Tutor, he now channels his expertise into clear, insightful reporting that amplifies Africa’s voice in the global Web3 economy.
Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has announced the launch of a regulatory pilot focused on Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Counter-Proliferation Financing (CPF). The initiative targets a select group of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and fintech companies operating within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital finance ecosystem. This marks one of the most structured attempts yet by regulators to directly engage crypto-related businesses in the country. Who’s Involved in the Pilot? The CBN identified several high-profile players participating in the pilot, including: These companies represent a mix of: This diversity suggests the CBN is…
In this exclusive interview with Coinafrica, Lotachi Anidi shares her journey from engineering to product design and breaks down what’s really driving crypto adoption in Africa. From building Onboard to navigating trust, regulation, and user behavior, she offers a grounded perspective beyond the hype. Q: Who is Lotachi Anidi? Lotachi:Professionally, I’m a designer who has been building in fintech for about six years, mostly working on emerging technologies. I worked at Bamboo and later joined the team building products at Nestcoin, where I led design on Onboard — a product we built and evolved over several years. Personally, I grew…
Nigerian crypto exchange Roqqu has announced a new partnership with Bridge, a subsidiary of Stripe, to enable users to spend stablecoins directly through card payments. The move signals a major step toward solving one of crypto’s biggest challenges — real-world usability. The Problem: Stablecoins Still Need Conversion According to Roqqu CEO Eseoghene Onomor, over $82 billion flows through stablecoins daily, yet most of this activity remains limited to peer-to-peer transfers. To spend stablecoins today, users typically need to: This multi-step process creates friction and limits adoption. The Solution: Stablecoin-Powered Cards Through this partnership, Roqqu aims to eliminate that friction by…
Nigerian crypto exchange Quidax has carried out another round of layoffs as it deepens its transition toward a business-to-business (B2B) strategy. The move reflects a broader shift among crypto startups prioritising sustainability, infrastructure, and enterprise solutions over retail trading. Quidax Cuts Jobs Across Key Teams Quidax recently terminated employees across several departments, including sales, design, and operations, according to reports from TechCabal. The layoffs were reportedly announced during a company-wide meeting in early March 2026. Affected employees were subsequently notified by the company’s People and Culture team and asked to return company-issued equipment. While Quidax cited performance-related reasons for the…
Kenya is taking a significant step toward regulating its growing crypto sector, proposing a $3.85 million capital requirement for stablecoin issuers under new draft rules. The proposed framework, introduced by the National Treasury on March 19, aims to bring virtual asset businesses under formal supervision while strengthening the country’s financial system. What the Kenya Stablecoin Capital Requirement Means Under the draft regulations, firms issuing stablecoins to the public must meet strict financial and operational standards. Key requirements include: These rules are designed to ensure that stablecoin issuers can maintain liquidity and protect users. Focus on Transparency and Risk Management The…
Kenya is fast emerging as a major crypto destination, with over 50 digital asset firms exploring entry into the market, according to recent reports. The firms—ranging from global exchanges to blockchain infrastructure providers—are in discussions to establish regional headquarters in Nairobi, driven by rising adoption and favourable policy signals. Among the companies reportedly considering entry is Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, highlighting growing institutional interest in the East African market. Nairobi Is Positioning as a Regional Crypto Hub The push is being led by the Nairobi International Finance Centre (NIFC), which is actively engaging crypto firms as part of…
Global fintech company Circle Internet Group has partnered with Cassava Technologies, founded by Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, to expand the use of USDC stablecoins across Africa. The collaboration, announced on March 24, 2026, marks Circle’s first major expansion into the African market, signaling growing institutional interest in the continent’s digital finance ecosystem. What the Partnership Means Under the agreement, Sasai Fintech, a division of Cassava Technologies, will integrate USDC into its digital payments ecosystem. This will enable: Sasai already operates across multiple African payment corridors, offering mobile wallets, remittance services, and business payment solutions. USDC Integration Across 30 African Markets…
Nigeria’s regulatory stance on cryptocurrency appears to be entering a new phase, following a strong statement from the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, during a recent interview on Arise News. In one of the clearest endorsements yet from a top regulator, Agama stated: “Cryptocurrency and the digital space are the future of finance; we cannot lose the new system.” The remark signals a decisive shift—from cautious engagement to strategic acceptance of digital assets within Nigeria’s financial system. From Skepticism to Strategic Alignment For years, Nigeria’s relationship with crypto has been defined by regulatory uncertainty.…
Nigeria’s digital asset market has reached a major milestone. Crypto transactions in Nigeria hit $96 billion, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The announcement, made by SEC Director-General Dr. Emomotimi Agama, highlights the rapid growth of cryptocurrency adoption in Africa’s largest economy. This figure reinforces Nigeria’s position as one of the most active crypto markets globally. What Is Driving Nigeria’s Crypto Growth? The rise in Nigeria’s crypto transactions, hitting $96 billion, is largely driven by real-world use cases rather than speculation. Key drivers include: With ongoing foreign exchange challenges, many Nigerians are turning to crypto as a more…
Actor and entrepreneur Idris Elba has stepped further into the fintech space as Akuna Wallet, a digital finance platform he co-founded, has been accepted into the crypto regulatory sandbox in Ghana. The initiative places the platform under the supervision of the Bank of Ghana, allowing the company to test blockchain-powered financial services within a controlled regulatory environment. Akuna Wallet is led by a founding team that includes KJ Owusu-Agyeman, Idris Elba, and Denelle Dixon, who aim to build digital financial infrastructure designed to expand access to global financial systems. The development marks another milestone for Ghana as it positions itself…