Author: Opeloyeru Batly
Opeloyeru Batly
Tope Batly is a market research specialist and the founder of DataQolo, a platform dedicated to market intelligence and talent development. With a deep focus on the future of work and economic trends across the continent, she provides data-driven insights into how blockchain and digital assets are reshaping African markets. At Coinafrica, Tope leverages her expertise to demystify complex market shifts, helping readers navigate the evolving landscape of African fintech and decentralized finance.
Kenya’s mobile money crypto adoption is quietly reshaping how digital assets enter Africa’s financial system. While much of the continent’s crypto conversation focuses on Nigeria’s trading volumes and South Africa’s regulatory frameworks, Kenya is charting a different path, one built on the strength of its mobile money infrastructure. Unlike markets where crypto adoption is driven primarily by speculative trading, Kenya’s growth is infrastructure-led. The country’s dominant mobile payments platform, M-Pesa, has long been a global case study in financial inclusion. Today, that same infrastructure is enabling seamless access to cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Rather than disrupting existing payment habits, crypto platforms…
Nigeria has taken a decisive step in formalising its approach to digital asset oversight. The newly approved Virtual Asset Regulatory Council (VARC) is tasked with coordinating how cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and other virtual assets are regulated across the country. The move comes as Nigeria’s digital asset market continues to expand rapidly. Between July 2024 and June 2025, formal virtual asset transactions were estimated at $92.1 billion, excluding peer-to-peer and over-the-counter activity. At this scale, fragmented regulation was no longer sustainable. What Is VARC and How Will It Work? VARC is not a standalone regulator. Instead, it serves as a coordination layer…
Africa’s emerging markets are experiencing a surge in stablecoin adoption in Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa leading the way. The growth is fuelled by the need for affordable cross-border payments, protection against inflation, and rising confidence in digital financial infrastructure. Stablecoin Market Overview As of February 2026, the global stablecoin market capitalization has surpassed $300 billion. Tether (USDT) leads the market with an estimated valuation of $185 billion, followed by USD Coin (USDC) at approximately $75 billion. While these figures highlight the global dominance of US-pegged tokens, the fastest acceleration in demand is happening in Africa, particularly in Nigeria…