Author: Opeloyeru Batly

Lagos-based fintech SurgePay has secured a six-figure award from the Stellar Community Fund (SCF). The SCF is an open-application grants program run by the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), supporting teams building on the Stellar and Soroban blockchain networks. This places SurgePay among a select group of fintech and Web3 teams chosen from 85 global applicants. The award comes not as a lifeline for a concept, but as support for a platform already processing live transactions. For many Africans, this is less a story about fundraising and more a story about infrastructure finally catching up with the continent’s financial needs. The…

Fuze, one of the fastest-growing digital asset infrastructure providers in the Middle East and Africa, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Miden. Miden is a zero-knowledge-powered blockchain company backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and other investors. Together, the partners plan to build private, regulation-ready blockchain infrastructure for banks, fintechs, and enterprises in high-growth markets. WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP IS BUILT AROUND Fuze brings relationships across the Middle East and Africa. It connects with banks, fintechs, and enterprises that want regulated digital asset services. Miden brings a privacy-first blockchain architecture. Together, they plan to support regulated use cases, including payments, remittances,…

Binance is reportedly pursuing an out-of-court settlement with Nigerian authorities in an ongoing Binance Nigeria tax dispute. If reached, the agreement could signal a turning point in the company’s regulatory challenges in the country. The effort comes as crypto platforms in Nigeria face growing scrutiny. Regulators are increasingly focused on oversight, Binance Nigeria tax compliance, and accountability in a sector that continues to expand rapidly. A successful settlement could also help ease tensions while setting a tone for how major exchanges work with regulators across Africa. BINANCE MOVES TOWARD SETTLEMENT AS NIGERIA TIGHTENS CRYPTO OVERSIGHT Binance is exploring an out-of-court…

FirstRand Bank is using Kinexys Digital Payments, a private permissioned blockchain network operated by Kinexys with J.P. Morgan, to automate blockchain treasury payments in South Africa and to execute programmable USD transfers in near real time. The goal is to help FirstRand’s treasury team execute intragroup USD transfers without being constrained by traditional settlement windows. It does this by automatically triggering payment instructions when pre-defined conditions are met. In a region where liquidity timing and banking-hours constraints can still affect how quickly institutions move money, this “automate-when-ready” workflow is a practical sign that blockchain is moving from experimentation toward operational…

Luno has been awarded the 2025 Crypto Exchange of the Year, reinforcing its position as one of the most trusted platforms in the global digital asset space. The recognition comes at a time when crypto users are paying closer attention to security, compliance, and ease of use factors that continue to shape adoption across Africa and beyond. By consistently delivering in these areas, Luno stands out in an increasingly competitive market. As crypto adoption accelerates in key African markets such as Nigeria and South Africa, this milestone signals growing confidence in platforms that prioritise user protection and long-term value. WHAT…

For more than a decade, the central question for markets and builders has been crypto asset classification. On March 17, 2026, the SEC and CFTC issued a joint interpretive release that finally provides a clear taxonomy for crypto asset classification under U.S. federal law. Published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2026, the guidance took effect immediately. The five-category taxonomy for crypto asset classification The interpretation establishes five categories: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins, and digital securities. Digital commodities, digital collectibles, and digital tools are classified as non-securities; tokenised securities remain securities on-chain. Payment stablecoins are treated…

PayPal PYUSD Africa expansion is underway. PayPal expanded its dollar‑backed stablecoin, PYUSD, to 70 markets worldwide, moving beyond its previous availability in the United States and the United Kingdom. Announced from San Jose on March 17, 2026, the rollout now includes users across Africa, South America, and Asia. What the rollout allows users to do What is PYUSD? PYUSD (PayPal USD) is a stablecoin issued by Paxos Trust Company and regulated by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Each PYUSD remains backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar deposits, short‑term Treasury securities, and cash‑equivalent instruments, so every token…

Luno has officially launched a structured Crypto Prediction Markets product in Nigeria, the first of its kind on the platform in the country. The feature lets users take a position on whether the price of selected crypto assets will close above or below a daily price level, earning USDC if their call lands correctly. The rollout pushes Nigerian users beyond simple buying and selling into outcome-based, time-bound market participation. Nigeria and South Africa are the two inaugural markets for the product, launching simultaneously. What Is the Prediction Market? Luno’s Prediction Markets product, powered by infrastructure provider Limitless, operates as a…

In a significant step forward for global finance, Mastercard is harnessing the power of blockchain technology to enhance payment systems through strategic partnerships with Binance and Ripple. This initiative aims to create a cutting-edge payments infrastructure, combining traditional finance with the versatility of digital assets, and it signals a growing acceptance of blockchain’s potential to revolutionize financial transactions. The Need for Transformation in Payments Mastercard’s blockchain initiative addresses longstanding challenges in cross-border payments, such as high costs, slow transaction times, and lack of transparency. By integrating blockchain technology, Mastercard aims to build a scalable platform that enhances the efficiency of…

Institutional adoption of digital assets is accelerating as infrastructure providers enhance access to regulated liquidity pools across global markets. In a significant development, Wyden has integrated VALR, one of South Africa’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, into its institutional liquidity network. This integration allows banks, brokers, and asset managers using Wyden to tap into VALR’s liquidity, reflecting a broader industry trend of connecting regional exchanges with global trading networks. This move not only improves market depth and execution quality but also facilitates cross-border crypto trading. Key Highlights of the VALR-Wyden Integration 1. Institutional Liquidity Expansion With this integration, clients using Wyden’s trading…