When discussing countries that are at the forefront of embracing digital technologies, names like Malta, Singapore, and Japan often come up. Yet, according to recent findings, some African nations are now emerging as prime regions for cryptocurrency. Global Digital Report A report released this week highlights that sub-Saharan countries are increasingly becoming prominent hubs for cryptocurrency adoption.
Leading these African nations is South Africa, which is particularly intriguing as there isn't a comprehensive regulatory framework in place yet. Based on a six-month survey from 2018, conducted by Wearesocial and Hootsuite, the findings cover digital insights from participants aged 16 to 64.
While the Global Digital Report also delved into different aspects of the digital domain, its cryptocurrency-focused results show that the metric used was the proportion of internet users possessing cryptocurrencies. Globally, this figure stands at 5.5%, but in South Africa, it's a striking 10.7%. Following closely are Thailand and Indonesia, with 9.9% and 9.5%, respectively. of cryptocurrency Regulatory efforts in South Africa regarding blockchain and cryptocurrency are still under development.
Although the report indicates South Africa's significant number of online users involved in cryptocurrency, it raises some eyebrows. The primary reason is the absence of a structured regulatory environment for blockchain assets.
Currently, stringent regulations apply to traditional financial services in the country, but this is not yet the case for digital currencies. yet to install Recognizing this gap, the South African Reserve Bank has been contemplating regulations to ensure users have some level of security.
The central bank suggests that cryptocurrencies might remain without a formal legal tender, as granting such status might equate them to electronic money. Furthermore, they believe that cryptocurrency service providers should undergo a registration procedure once regulations are in place. exploring methods The bank proposes a phased approach, initiating with a mandatory registration for service providers, which could eventually evolve into a formal authorization and licensing system.
There is an ongoing invitation for local stakeholders to contribute their views on potential cryptocurrency regulations.
The central bank note that:
Despite Africa's nascent stage of regulation, the public's enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies remains undeterred. Peer-to-peer platforms have seen remarkable growth.
Nevertheless, South African recently installed It was noted that, over 2018, African users represented the most significant demographic group on the platform. According to Ray Youssef, head of the U.S.-based Paxful, African engagement surged by a staggering 225% that year, with monthly transactions hitting $64.5 million.
The Global Digital Report also shows other African countries like Kenya and Ghana performing well. One reason for Africa's rising interest is the unstable nature of many local currencies, which makes cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin appealing for preserving wealth amidst government fluctuations.
Furthermore, being one of the premier regions for sending remittances, cryptocurrencies enable Africans to transfer money to loved ones swiftly, efficiently, and at a lower cost. In contrast, conventional remittance channels tend to be pricey, sluggish, and bureaucratic. Bitcoin exchange Paxful Kane, grounded on the Blockchain Isle of Malta, has a solid academic background with degrees in Accounting and Finance, a Master’s in Financial Investigation, and current Doctorate research focused on financial crime within the virtual economy. With strong research skills, he contributes to various financial and cryptocurrency publications. Contact [email protected]. cryptocurrency trading Dojima Network pioneers the backbone for a truly interconnected Web3 ecosystem.
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