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Luno has become the first licensed crypto service provider in South Africa, authorized by the FSCA under new regulations for crypto assets. This milestone highlights the importance of regulatory compliance in fostering a secure and innovative crypto environment.

Seven South African startups and one from Lesotho are selected for the Grindstone Africa accelerator, aimed at fostering high-growth entrepreneurship. The program supports innovative companies in scaling operations, with a focus on market access readiness.

CMA Kenya has admitted Infiniti n Beyond Limited into its Regulatory Sandbox for testing the OwnMali blockchain real estate tokenization platform, aiming to enhance property investment accessibility. This marks a significant step for blockchain startups in Kenya.

The Runes protocol by Casey Rodarmor allows for the creation of altcoins on the Bitcoin blockchain, enhancing token generation efficiency. Following Bitcoin's halving, it aims to attract users and increase block space demand, potentially boosting transaction fees.

MetaMask has launched a 'sell' feature in its mobile app, allowing users to easily exchange crypto for cash, including options like Vodafone Cash in Egypt. This new addition simplifies transactions while reducing fees and enhancing speed.

Fingo Africa, a YC-backed neobank, is launching in Kenya after securing regulatory approval. It aims to offer significantly reduced fees for financial services to Africa's youth and streamline bank account access within minutes. Partnered with Ecobank, it plans a pan-African rollout.

The Bank of Ghana is developing its CBDC, eCedi, using a token-based model on the Hedera Hashgraph network, differentiating it from other CBDCs like eNaira. The eCedi allows offline access and will be distributed through banks and merchants. An eCedi hackathon is also scheduled for Fall 2023 to foster innovation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and Africa Fintech Foundry have launched the eNaira hackathon, inviting tech enthusiasts to create innovative solutions for improving the digital currency's adoption, focusing on areas like remittances and financial inclusion.

Nium, a global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, announced a partnership with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, an independent pan-African financial services group, to enable seamless cross-border payments across 35 African markets for more than 32 million customers.
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StarkWare has launched a $4 million venture fund to support blockchain startups in Africa, focusing on early-stage projects deploying on Starknet. Led by Kheireddine Kamal, the fund targets regions with high blockchain adoption potential, offering grants up to $150,000 and investments up to $500,000.

Nigerian fintech Carbon has discontinued its debit card services two years post-launch. Co-Founder Ngozi Dozie expresses uncertainty about the strategy of neobanks pushing card services, questioning if it was wise for all involved or just a matter of bad luck for Carbon.

Gluwa's CEO, Tae Oh, met Sierra Leone's Vice President to discuss collaboration for enabling citizens to engage in the global digital economy through advanced mobile money systems. Gluwa aims to enhance financial inclusion in Africa by integrating its technology with local CBDCs.