South African BTC Ponzi Scheme Mastermind Succumbs to Heart Attack While Detained in Brazil

Johann Steynberg, the mastermind behind a South African bitcoin Ponzi scheme, recently died of a heart attack while under house arrest on a farm in Brazil. According to his Brazilian wife, Steynberg left no will and had no assets that could be inventoried. South African Police Investigate Steynberg’s Reported Death Johann Steynberg, a South African … Read more

Nigerian Currency Reverses Early April Gains, Depreciating by 12% in Seven Days

The Naira recently depreciated by 12% in just seven days, thus shedding all the gains it made against the U.S. dollar in early April. Local media reports attribute the volatile naira’s latest drop to the growing mismatch between the supply and demand of foreign exchange. Demand and Supply Mismatch Just weeks after nearly breaching the … Read more

Kenya Establishes Working Group to Draft Rules Governing Crypto Entities

The Kenyan government recently established a multi-agency technical working group tasked with developing a framework for regulating and monitoring the cryptocurrency industry. The group, which includes financial regulators such as the Central Bank of Kenya, is set to draft rules for controlling and monitoring Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). FATF Grey Listing Threat The Kenyan … Read more

Nigerian Central Bank Disavows Letter Directing Banks to Sever Ties With Crypto Exchanges

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disavowed a letter that allegedly instructed financial institutions to sever ties with four global cryptocurrency exchanges. The central bank stated that the letter did not originate from its office and recommended that individuals interested in “authentic updates” refer to its official website. Fake Content The Central Bank of … Read more

Mauritania Central Bank Partners With Giesecke+Devrient to Develop a National CBDC

The Central Bank of Mauritania (CBM) has partnered with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) to develop and launch a digital version of the national currency. The Germany-based security technology firm is expected to assist the CBM in outlining the prerequisites for a national Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Outlining Prerequisites for a Central Bank Digital Currency The Central … Read more

Kenyan Authorities to Extradite Binance Executive to Nigeria by Month’s End

The Binance executive who reportedly escaped from custody in Nigeria is set to be extradited to the same country by the end of the month, according to reports. A Kenyan detective believes the extradition of Anjarwalla, who allegedly has ties to influential figures in Kenya, may still prove to be challenging. Interpol Reportedly Involved in … Read more

Nigerian Blockchain-Based Payment Startup, Ivorypay, Partners With Stablecoin Issuer, Tether

A Nigerian startup specializing in blockchain-based payments and remittances has entered into a partnership arrangement with the stablecoin issuer Tether. The arrangement is expected to extend the benefits of stable digital transactions to a larger number of consumers and businesses across the African continent. Ivorypay, Tether Partnership Aims to Boost User Confidence Ivorypay, a Nigerian … Read more

Nigerian Central Bank Governor Denies Using Forex Reserves to Defend Local Currency

The Nigerian central bank governor has refuted claims that the bank is using the country’s foreign exchange reserves to shore up the naira. The governor attributes the decline in reserves to debt repayments and other payments, which are made because they help to maintain Nigeria’s credibility. Maintaining Nigeria’s Credibility Yemi Cardoso, governor of the Central … Read more

Nigerian Instagram Celebrity Could Face Jail Time for ‘Spraying’ National Currency

Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of abusing naira banknotes. The charges against Okechukwu relate to three incidents in which he allegedly tampered with or “sprayed” NGN500 banknotes. Another Nigerian celebrity, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, received a six-month prison sentence for the same offence. Nigerian Authorities Clamp Down on Naira ‘Spraying’ … Read more

More Than 250 Zambian Students Attend Hackathon; Over 100 Earn Smart Contract Development Certification

More than 250 Zambian university students recently participated in an online boot camp and hackathon which saw over 100 earning certification in smart contract development. The students who complete their minimum viable products (MVPs) can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. Students Trained in Decentralized Application Development More than 250 students from St. … Read more