A U.S. license allowing transactions with key players in Russia’s financial system expires on Oct. 12. This could make it harder and more expensive for Russian businesses to trade with China in yuan. The yuan is currently the most traded foreign currency in Russia after Western sanctions and Russia’s de-dollarization efforts. Chinese banks are wary…
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 27.25% and increased the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for banks. These measures aim to combat inflation and stabilize the Nigerian economy. The CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated that the reforms implemented have restored the bank’s credibility and boosted…
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Zimbabwe’s central bank governor, John Mushayavanhu, has stated that the bank might use its foreign currency reserves to protect the Zimbabwe Gold (zig) from severe market disruptions. He also pledged to maintain a tight monetary policy to ensure stable inflation and exchange rates. The zig, a gold-backed currency, has experienced a decline in value against…
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Crypto.com has secured a payment service provider (PSP) license from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). This license allows the crypto exchange to offer e-money and fiat-based payment services, including its prepaid cards, in the region. The approval adds to Crypto.com’s growing list of regulatory approvals worldwide, further solidifying its global presence. Meanwhile, Amber Group’s…
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Superfast founder Martin Tromp has launched a Solana validator in one of Teraco’s Johannesburg data centers. Solana is a fast, scalable blockchain platform competing with Ethereum. As a proof-of-stake system, validators like Tromp’s play a crucial role in maintaining network security and verifying transactions. Tromp initially launched the validator in Cape Town but moved to…
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Uniswap Labs CEO Hayden Abrams has refuted claims that the platform charges $20 million for protocol deployments, calling them “completely false.” Abrams, who said he rarely engages with individuals seeking attention, explained that protocol deployments typically follow a governance vote. He added that deployments are prioritized based on the activity and effort involved, but efforts…
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The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against four individuals and several firms for allegedly conducting illegal crypto transactions, including USDT to naira conversions, without a banking license. The four are Ejiogu A. Chinedu, Nnamdi F. Okereke, Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, and Chukwuebuka F. Ogumba. The defendants are accused of violating the Banks and Other Financial…
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Fintech startups face significant challenges when expanding to Kenya, primarily due to the lengthy and complex process of obtaining an operating license. Obtaining a payment service provider (PSP) license can take up to two years, forcing startups to rely on workarounds such as partnerships with established players like telcos and banks. High market entry barriers…
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A two-day pan-African AI conference was held in Lagos, Nigeria, co-hosted by the United States. The conference aimed to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems in Africa, with hundreds of attendees from various fields. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized the importance of collaboration between the U.S. and Africa in AI development…
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The U.S. and Nigeria will host a pan-African Artificial Intelligence (AI) conference in Lagos from September 10-11. The conference will bring together government officials, tech leaders, and civil society to discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI development and use. Participants will work to identify and harmonize tech governance strategies to ensure AI is adopted…
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