The Nigerian government received nearly $100,000 from two cryptocurrency firms accused of conducting unlicensed conversions of tether (USDT) to naira and vice versa. The two Nigerian cryptocurrency firms, Paparaxy Global Ventures Limited and Lemskin Technologies Limited were accused of operating without a banking license. Plea Agreement The Nigerian Federal Government recently received nearly $100,000 (NGN160…
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $543.5 million into the Nigerian foreign exchange market between September 6th and 30th to address currency volatility. The bank attributed the volatility to high demand for imports and seasonal factors. Nigeria is facing foreign exchange shortages and the government has taken various steps to counter it, including restricting…
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Stablecoins are surging in popularity across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 43% of crypto transactions compared to bitcoin’s 18.1%. This trend is driven by the instability of local currencies and limited access to US dollars. Businesses and individuals view stablecoins as a reliable way to store value and conduct international payments. Stablecoins as a Store of…
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Ghana’s central bank launched a gold coin to boost domestic savings and manage liquidity. The coins are available in October and priced based on the London Bullion Market Association auction price. Despite efforts to strengthen the cedi, Ghana’s currency continues to depreciate against the U.S. dollar. Gold Coins Priced in Local Currency Ghana has launched…
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The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has devalued the Zimbabwe Gold (Zig) by 44%, causing the currency to plummet from 13.98 to 24.3 against the U.S. dollar. This drastic move addresses rising exchange rate volatility and inflationary pressures that have plagued the economy since August. According to RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu, the decision was necessary…
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A Ghanaian banking consultant, Richmond Atuahene, has expressed concerns about Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s pledge to back the cedi with gold. Atuahene believes Ghana needs a stable economic environment before implementing this policy. John Gatsi, a dean at the University of Cape Coast School of Business, warns that backing the cedi with gold alone will…
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will reintroduce a foreign exchange auction system as part of efforts to ease pressure on the local currency. The CBN has called on authorized dealer banks to share their respective lists of outstanding forex demand by end users. Auction System Aims to Mitigate Impact of Dollar Shortage on Exchange…
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The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has defended the decision to float the birr and insisted that this move does not amount to the devaluation of the currency. Ahmed stated that the intention is to unify the official and parallel market exchange rates. Reports suggest that Ethiopia’s decision to float the birr was promptly rewarded…
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Zimbabwe’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), has injected over US$50 million into the interbank foreign exchange market to stabilize the economy. This move comes as the parallel market exchange rate is significantly higher than the official rate, causing economic instability. The RBZ aims to increase foreign currency supply, reduce pressure on banks,…
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The recently completed proof of concept by the Bank of Ghana and the Monetary Authority of Singapore demonstrated that the latter’s central bank digital currency enables cross-border payments, excluding many intermediaries and associated costs. Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) stated that the proof of concept (POC) demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing digital credentials for international trade and cross-border…
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