Author: Opeloyeru Batly

Tether and Shiga are planning to bring self-custodial wallets to users across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The two companies announced the collaboration on September 28, 2026. The products will support USD₮, Bitcoin and Tether Gold (XAU₮), while giving users direct control of their assets. The initiative builds on Tether’s 2025 investment in Shiga. It also expands Tether’s push to make stablecoin infrastructure more accessible across emerging markets. Tether and Shiga Target Africa and the GCC The partnership will use Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK). WDK provides the wallet infrastructure that Shiga will use to develop its…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Ghana to close gaps in its crypto regulatory framework before the country’s new virtual-asset regime goes live in December 2026. An IMF technical assistance mission found that Ghana’s prudential and conduct rules are broadly aligned with global standards. However, several guidelines still need development or strengthening before regulators can fully supervise the market. The review focused on crypto-asset service providers and stablecoin arrangements under the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Ghana’s Crypto Market Requires Stronger Oversight Ghana has already established the legal foundation for regulating crypto markets. The…

Crypto exchange Bitget has suffered a major security breach that affected approximately $351.6 million in digital assets. The exchange detected unauthorised transfers from some of its hot wallets on September 24. It then suspended withdrawals while its security teams investigated the incident. Bitget says its cold wallets remain secure. The exchange also says customer funds are covered by its User Protection Fund, which holds more than $464 million. Bitget Detects $351.6 Million Security Breach Bitget’s security systems detected the suspicious transfers at 18:31 UTC on September 24. The exchange activated its emergency response procedures within minutes. It then identified and…

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has met Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio as the cryptocurrency exchange continues to deepen its presence across African markets. Zhao shared a photo of the meeting on X on September 24. He described the meeting as a pleasure and added that crypto adoption continues. However, he did not disclose specific agreements or initiatives resulting from the meeting. The meeting comes as Binance expands its focus on emerging markets and strengthens its stablecoin strategy. It also renews the exchange’s connection with Sierra Leone, where Binance has previously worked with the government on cryptocurrency education. Binance Founder…

Proposed South Africa crypto regulations have put at least three digital asset deals worth a combined R2.2 billion on hold, according to people familiar with the transactions. The proposed rules would bring crypto assets into South Africa’s capital flow management framework and introduce requirements for certain cross border crypto transactions. The developments come as South African authorities work to strengthen oversight of digital asset flows while responding to concerns from the crypto industry. Crypto Deals Face New Uncertainty According to Bloomberg reporting published by Moneyweb, the affected transactions include a private equity investment, deals supporting small business capital formation and…

Apple and Google stablecoin hiring is giving the digital asset industry another sign that Big Tech is paying closer attention to blockchain based finance. Apple recently advertised a financial product strategy role that lists knowledge of stablecoins, tokenized deposits and blockchain technology among its preferred qualifications. Google, meanwhile, is hiring a Web3 architect with experience in stablecoin rails and tokenized deposits. Neither company has announced plans to launch its own stablecoin. However, the hiring shows growing interest in the infrastructure surrounding digital assets. Apple Moves Stablecoin Expertise Into Payments Apple’s Apple Pay Financial Product Strategy Lead role sits within the…

The crypto P2P crackdown in Africa and its diaspora markets is no longer a warning. It is active enforcement. Regulators in London and Nairobi have moved beyond licensing frameworks and public advisories. They are now raiding premises, issuing criminal referrals, and detaining traders. African P2P traders built something real. They moved money when banks refused. They funded businesses that formal finance ignored. Now the environment that allowed that to happen is changing fast, and not every trader knows it yet. The FCA Has Raided London Twice This Year Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority carried out its first coordinated P2P crypto crackdown…

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde personally intervened to block Binance from securing an EU-wide crypto license in Greece, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published on September 18, 2026. The intervention came despite the ECB holding no formal licensing authority under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. Binance withdrew its Greek application on June 24, 2026. When the MiCA transition period closed on July 1, the world’s largest crypto exchange had no EU license and roughly two million users lost access to core trading services across the bloc. How the Intervention Unfolded Binance had come close to securing…

Bidco Africa Chairman and founder Vimal Shah has told a Nairobi court how his company sent KSh102.4 million in a foreign exchange deal involving cryptocurrency and stablecoins. The promised US dollars never arrived. Shah gave his testimony at the Milimani Magistrate’s Court in a criminal case involving businessman Nicholas “Nik” Nesbitt, who faces a charge of conspiracy to defraud. Nesbitt denies the allegations. Bidco Needed Dollars Fast The transaction happened in May 2023, when Kenyan businesses struggled to access US dollars through normal banking channels. Bidco Africa imports raw materials for its manufacturing operations and needed dollars to pay suppliers.…

Circle is making a major move beyond issuing stablecoins. On September 8, 2026, the company announced an agreement to acquire Singapore-based cross-border payments platform Tazapay for approximately $400 million in an all-stock transaction. The deal is designed to expand Circle’s ability to move stablecoins into local banking and payment systems around the world. The acquisition matters because stablecoins do not operate in isolation. A business may receive USDC onchain, but its supplier may still need local currency in a bank account. That final conversion and payout requires banking relationships, payment licences, local rails and compliance infrastructure. Tazapay already operates in…