The central bank of South Africa responsible for overseeing monetary policy and financial stability.
South African banks could lose their grip on fintech payments
SARB plans to publish a new authorisation framework by November 2026 allowing non-banks to issue electronic money and process payments directly. Lesaka Technologies aims to acquire Bank Zero to reduce dependency on bank sponsorship and improve its value proposition.
Luno says crypto draft may clash with SA’s IMF commitments
Luno argues that draft regulations treat stablecoin payments inconsistently with South Africa's international commitments. The draft classifies stablecoin payments as capital flows, while payments in dollars through banks are not treated the same.
DA MP’s fintech denies clients were kept in the dark
Kastelo is being investigated by the South African Reserve Bank for alleged exchange control violations. The Reserve Bank claims Kastelo circumvented exchange controls by using clients' allowances to externalize funds.
VALR hits back at proposed cross-border crypto ban
VALR CEO Farzam Ehsani warns that barring South African companies from cross-border crypto transactions may drive these activities underground. Ehsani argues that the proposed regulations contradict the authorities' goal of enhancing oversight and preventing illicit financial flows.
Why South Africa’s iGaming Sector Is Turning to Crypto Amid Rising Payment Fraud
iGaming fraud in South Africa tripled during the second half of 2025, according to Sumsub's report. Africa's iGaming fraud rate reached 2.54% in Q1 2026, significantly above the global average.
