-
Overthrowing the King: Could Central Bank Digital Currencies Replace Cash in Post-COVID-19 Africa?
Despite advances in digital technology, cash has remained the undisputed king of payments in sub-Saharan Africa. However, as Michaella Allen and Christine Hougaard at Cenfri explain, COVID-19 has placed a stigma on cash and led governments across the region to actively encourage digital payments. They explore the implications of this shift, and whether it could make central bank digital currencies a viable alternative.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
-
Fintech Funding in Asia Suffers Under Coronavirus Impact
A lack of mega funding rounds and India heavily scrutinizing inbound capital have made for a dramatic quarterly drop for fintech funding.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
How Coronavirus Is Impacting Digital Payments in Emerging Markets
Digital payments have been growing rapidly in emerging markets over the last ten years or so, since the establishment of MPESA in Kenya in 2007, writes Pavel Matveev, CEO of Wirex. MPESA relies on 120,000 retail agents who take in and dispense cash to users around the country, and in 2017, MPESA processed 1.7 billion payments […]
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
-
Uber Africa launches Uber Cash with Flutterwave and explores EVs
Uber is launching its Uber Cash digital wallet feature in Sub-Saharan Africa through a partnership with San Francisco-based — Nigerian-founded — fintech firm Flutterwave.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
How COVID-19 Will Reshape Islamic Finance Markets
Since the inception of the Islamic finance industry in the 1970s, there has been a steady growth in demand for sharia-compliant products and services and the industry’s total assets reached US$2.5 trillion globally in 2019.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
-
Facebook’s Libra Serves as Signal That Fintech Firms Like Visa, Paypal, Booking.Com Were Eager to Explore Stablecoins, Blockchain Advisor Argues
“An increase in the supply of Tether has been seen as a positive leading indicator especially for Bitcoin demand. The thinking is that increased issuance of Tether [leads to more] buying. Tether`s price fluctuates around $1. The issuing company, Tether, aims to manage the supply so that it does not trade at a significant premium or a discount for an extended period.”
- Categories
- Finance
-
Leveraging Blockchain for Good: A Q&A with Ken Weber, Head of Social Impact at Ripple
Blockchain has been sparking social innovation for years – and much of it has focused on payments. Ripple has been an innovator in this space since 2012, leveraging its blockchain-powered payment technology to enable international remittances through a network that now spans over 40 countries and six continents. In this Q&A, Ken Weber, Ripple’s Head of Social Impact discusses the company's multi-faceted efforts to "advance socially responsible and equitable uses of blockchain, cryptocurrency and related technologies.”
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
-
Crypto-currencies gaining popularity in Kenya
Interest in virtual currencies is rising across the African continent, especially in Kenya, Africa's Silicon Valley.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
Parent Organization
