Using a Crypto Loan App to Bring Financial Services to Excluded Groups in Africa
In much of Africa, many people still lack access to basic financial services for many reasons. One of the reasons is that financial institutions have set standards or thresholds that make it impossible for low-income earners to even open a bank account. Access to soft loans or other forms of financing is even more cumbersome while the punitive interest rates charged ensure that SMEs, farmers, and other groups do not even entertain the idea of borrowing banks. The fact that this has been ongoing for many years is a clear indication that the conventional banking system has failed these....
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One of South Africa’s largest financial services groups, Old Mutual, has reportedly been appointed manager of the ZARP stablecoin project’s cash reserves. Founders of the stablecoin are hopeful that the appointment of one of the country’s oldest financial services companies will help bolster confidence in the digital currency.
Enhancing Credibility of the Stablecoin
The South African financial services giant Old Mutual has reportedly been designated the manager of the cash reserves of the local currency-backed stablecoin — the zarp. By appointing Old....
Sympathizers of the terror group, the Islamic State (IS) are allegedly using South Africa’s financial system to channel funds to the group’s affiliates and networks in Africa. The United States government has so far sanctioned four South Africa-based individuals it accused of facilitating the transfer of funds to African terror groups. Millions of Dollars Laundered A new United Nations Security Council (UNSC) document alleges affiliates of the Islamic State (IS) in Africa are using the South African financial system to mobilize and launder millions of dollars. As per a....
Binance has announced that it is terminating some services in South Africa to comply with regulations. This move followed a warning issued by the South African financial regulator that Binance Group was not authorized to give any financial advice or render any intermediary services in the country.
Binance Ceases Some Services in South Africa
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced Friday some changes to its offerings in South Africa. Noting that it “constantly evaluates its product and service offerings to comply with local regulations,” Binance said it will....
The ease and convenience of services backed with the emerging techs can dramatically improve the financial landscape in Africa. Africa is the home to 1.2 billion people and what has been described as the world’s largest trade area — the African Continental Free Trade Area. Africa is forging a new path to driving development, and access to financial services will play a significant role in its economic growth. The need to provide improved systems for poverty reduction, if not alleviation, is further accentuated when one considers that 416 million Africans live in extreme poverty, and access....
Nearly 36% of Nigeria’s 106 million adults lack access to both regulated and unregulated financial services, according to the findings of the Enhancing Financial Innovations and Access (EFIA) study. In addition, while the findings do suggest a marginal drop in the percentage of financially excluded adults in the past few years, overall “the actual number of financially excluded adults increased from 36.6 million to 38.1 million.” Population Growth Rate Faster Than Financial Inclusion Growth Rate Additionally, the study findings show this number (financially excluded....