The South African government is tightening its grip on cryptocurrency trading. Tax authorities (SARS) are issuing tax notices and clarifying regulations, likely using AI to identify non-compliant traders. The central bank meanwhile has clarified rules for crypto purchases, allowing individuals limited investment but restricting companies. SARS Using AI to Track Down Tax Dodgers South African…
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South Africa’s financial services industry regulator announced on July 2 that it had approved an additional 63 crypto asset service provider license applications. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has received a total of 383 applications, with only five being declined. Notably, the approvals do not mean crypto assets are recognized as a legal form…
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The South African retail giant, Pick n Pay, has reported a significant increase in the value of monthly cryptocurrency payments, rising from approximately $1,350 to $54,000. The regions of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape in South Africa account for the lion’s share of Pick n Pay’s crypto transactions. Retailer Sees More Crypto Transactions in…
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Neil Leon De Waal, a key figure in the GS Partners metaverse fraud case, was reportedly arrested by South African law enforcement in late May. He was subsequently released on bail on June 3. Authorities began investigating De Waal following a complaint from one of his victims. The complainant, who lives in Benoni, had to…
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South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority said on April 22 that it has approved 75 institutions to be licensed as crypto asset service providers (CASPs). The regulator said the unveiling of licensed CASPs is intended to dispel misconceptions arising from the supposedly misleading media reports. FSCA Continues to Receive License Applications The Financial Sector Conduct…
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A South African regulator has said it plans to issue licenses to 60 crypto platforms by the end of March. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has said it is still processing the more than 300 applications it received late last year. South African regulators plan to oversee the activities of cryptocurrency entities through the Financial…
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The head of enforcement at South Africa’s financial industry watchdog said on Jan. 24 that he expects the organization to decide the fate of 50 crypto firms’ license applicants in the coming weeks. The watchdog stated that from the more than 100 entities that applied for a license, 20 have since withdrawn from their respective…
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About 73 applicants who are seeking a license to offer crypto products in South Africa are already registered as accountable institutions with the Financial Intelligence Centre, an executive at the crypto exchange Luno has said. According to the Luno executive, this may be an indication that regulated financial institutions are planning to add crypto to…
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Johann Steynberg, the imprisoned CEO of Mirror Trading International, a South African Bitcoin scam entity, is allegedly receiving preferential treatment in a Brazilian prison. The General Directorate of Penitentiary Administration (DGAP) has confirmed receiving a complaint about Steynberg’s access to a computer and the internet from inside the office of a Brazilian prison warden. Steynberg’s…
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Two South African crypto platforms and an Austria-based digital asset platform have joined forces to launch a new alternative investment platform called Altify. The goal of the new outfit is to enable South African investors, particularly the younger ones, to harness the power of alternative investments. Alternative Investment Opportunities a Preserve for the Wealthy Two…
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