South Africa’s finance minister has officially adopted a 3% inflation target, providing political backing for the central bank’s long-sought policy change. The move aims to reduce living costs and borrowing expenses while supporting long-term economic expansion. However, the government cautioned that national debt will now peak at a slightly higher level than previously projected.
about South Africa Adopts 3% Inflation Target to Boost GrowthSouth African Rand
0 posts last weekRipple Partners with Absa Bank for Digital Asset Custody in Africa
Ripple has secured its first major African custody partnership with South Africa’s Absa Bank, marking a significant expansion of its institutional digital asset services across the continent. The collaboration will enable Absa’s customers to access secure custody solutions for cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets using Ripple’s infrastructure, strengthening the blockchain company’s foothold in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital finance landscape while leveraging Absa’s substantial $119.5 billion in managed assets.
about Ripple Partners with Absa Bank for Digital Asset Custody in AfricaSouth Africa: Crypto Now Accepted at 650K+ Merchants
South Africa is witnessing a transformative moment in financial technology as cryptocurrency becomes a viable payment method at over 650,000 retail locations nationwide. Through a strategic partnership between QR payment provider Scan to Pay and Bitcoin payments specialist MoneyBadger, consumers can now use Bitcoin, stablecoins, and other digital assets for everyday purchases. This integration represents one of the most significant retail cryptocurrency adoption initiatives in Africa, bridging the gap between digital assets and conventional commerce while shielding merchants from crypto volatility through rand settlements.
about South Africa: Crypto Now Accepted at 650K+ MerchantsAfrica’s First Bitcoin Treasury Firm Launches on JSE
Africa Bitcoin Corporation (ABC), rebranded from Altvest Capital, has become the continent’s first publicly-listed Bitcoin treasury company, trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With a long-term goal to raise $210 million through preferential share offerings and structured debt notes, ABC plans to build a Bitcoin-based treasury, inspired by models like the UK’s Smarter Web Company. While the launch is set to draw billions in South African rand from capital markets, the founders highlight that Bitcoin’s true impact in Africa lies in retail and grassroots adoption, underscoring a dual focus on institutional investment and broader public engagement with cryptocurrency.
about Africa's First Bitcoin Treasury Firm Launches on JSEBitget & UNICEF Boost STEM Skills for Girls in 8 Nations
Bitget has teamed up with UNICEF Luxembourg in a three-year partnership to advance STEM and blockchain literacy among young people, particularly girls, in eight countries: Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, and South Africa. The initiative, under UNICEF’s Game Changers Coalition, targets 300,000 participants, including students, parents, and educators, with the broader goal of empowering 1.1 million girls by 2027. Bitget’s $10 million Blockchain4Her program further supports this mission by providing mentorship, funding, and educational resources to promote women’s digital and financial inclusion. The collaboration aligns with global efforts to close the gender gap in tech and blockchain industries.
about Bitget & UNICEF Boost STEM Skills for Girls in 8 NationsAI Reinventing Reality: Who Keeps It Honest?
The article explores how AI models, such as ChatGPT and Grok, are distorting reality by prioritizing user engagement and virality over accuracy. These systems often reflect biases, conspiracy theories, or sanitized outputs, raising concerns about data integrity and consent. The author argues that decentralized infrastructure and community-driven feedback loops—backed by blockchain—could ensure transparency and accountability in AI development. Projects like LAION and Hugging Face are already testing participatory models where contributors validate AI outputs. The piece calls for a shift from closed-door training to open, human-centric systems to prevent AI from rewriting truth.
about AI Reinventing Reality: Who Keeps It Honest?Vietnam Joins BRICS Amid Push for De-Dollarization
The BRICS economic alliance is growing as Vietnam becomes its 10th ‘partner country,’ joining others like Belarus, Nigeria, and Thailand. Originally formed in 2009 as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China), the group expanded to include South Africa and now aims to reduce dependence on the US dollar through initiatives like local currency transactions and a potential gold-backed common currency. While Saudi Arabia has reportedly avoided formal membership to avoid tensions with the US, BRICS continues to prioritize economic cooperation, trade facilitation, and alternative payment platforms. Despite early 2025 claims from some member countries that de-dollarization isn’t a primary goal, the alliance’s broader strategy suggests a shift away from dollar dominance.
about Vietnam Joins BRICS Amid Push for De-DollarizationYouTuber Exposes $800K Crypto Scam in Cebu
A YouTuber infiltrated and exposed an $800,000 crypto scam operating from the Skyrise building in Cebu IT Park, Philippines. The fraudulent call center used fake investment products such as Quantum AI and Bitcoin Code to lure victims from South Africa, Nigeria, and Gulf countries, previously targeting Canada, the UK, and Europe. The scammers operated under multiple aliases, including BMJ Data Processing Services and Virtual Wealth Exchange, exploiting the Philippines’ low labor costs and English proficiency to run their global fraud scheme. The YouTuber’s live confrontation and CCTV hack revealed the operation’s scale and methods.
about YouTuber Exposes $800K Crypto Scam in CebuAfrica Fintech Forum 2025: Driving Innovation and Inclusivity in Financial Services
Johannesburg will host the 2nd Africa Fintech Forum on January 27, 2025, bringing together leading fintech innovators and stakeholders to explore “Driving Africa’s Fintech Revolution.” The agenda includes discussions on digital banking, blockchain, AI, and gender inclusivity, culminating in an Awards Ceremony honoring industry pioneers. This event, supported by the FSCA, aims to foster partnerships and solidify Africa’s position in the global fintech landscape.
about Africa Fintech Forum 2025: Driving Innovation and Inclusivity in Financial ServicesThe Future of Cryptocurrency Regulation and Its Global Economic Impact
The evolving regulatory landscape in the US is poised to enhance the integration of blockchain technology into traditional financial systems, with industry leaders emphasizing its potential to streamline transactions and improve efficiency. As crypto adoption mirrors early internet growth, experts advocate for clearer regulations and user-friendly designs to facilitate mass adoption, potentially lifting billions out of poverty and boosting local economies. The need for robust infrastructure and privacy measures remains critical to harnessing blockchain’s full capabilities.
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