https://cryptoeconomics.com/topics/africa-emerging-markets/ Coverage filed to the Africa & emerging markets desk. en © 2026 Cryptoeconomics Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/kenya-vasp-regulations-2026-gazetted/ https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/kenya-vasp-regulations-2026-gazetted/ Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Kenya gazetted the Virtual Asset Service Providers Regulations, 2026 on 24 July 2026, completing implementation of the VASP Act assented to in October 2025. The Central Bank of Kenya will supervise fiat conversion services and stablecoin issuers, while the Capital Markets Authority takes exchanges, token issuance platforms and tokenization. Regulation Africa & emerging markets Stablecoins & payments Kenya Law: Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/bis-annual-report-2026-stablecoin-assessment/ https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/bis-annual-report-2026-stablecoin-assessment/ Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT The Bank for International Settlements published the money and payments chapter of its 2026 Annual Economic Report on 23 June 2026, arguing that stablecoins fall short on singleness, elasticity and integrity of money. The chapter warns that dollar stablecoin adoption can accelerate dollarization and erode capital controls in emerging markets. Stablecoins & payments Regulation Africa & emerging markets Bank for International Settlements: Annual Economic Report 2026, Chapter III https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/imf-nigeria-2026-article-iv-stablecoins/ https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/imf-nigeria-2026-article-iv-stablecoins/ Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT The IMF Executive Board concluded its 2026 Article IV consultation with Nigeria on 9 June 2026 and identified stablecoin oversight as a priority. A follow-up IMF country note published on 16 June described stablecoins as a growing cross-border payment channel in Nigeria. Africa & emerging markets Regulation Stablecoins & payments International Monetary Fund https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/mastercard-yellow-card-eemea-stablecoins/ https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/mastercard-yellow-card-eemea-stablecoins/ Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Mastercard and the African digital-asset platform Yellow Card announced a partnership on 7 May 2026 to build stablecoin-based payment and settlement rails across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The arrangement covers remittances, cross-border business payments and treasury operations in markets including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Africa & emerging markets Stablecoins & payments Institutions Mastercard newsroom (EEMEA) https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/imf-stablecoin-fx-spillovers-working-paper/ https://cryptoeconomics.com/news/imf-stablecoin-fx-spillovers-working-paper/ Sat, 25 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT An IMF working paper published on 27 March 2026 examined cross-border stablecoin flows and their effects on emerging-market foreign exchange rates. It found that dollar stablecoin inflows correspond to periods of currency pressure and can accelerate capital outflows during stress, and noted that cross-border stablecoin flows now exceed Bitcoin and Ether flows. Africa & emerging markets Stablecoins & payments Regulation IMF Working Paper 2026/056: Stablecoin inflows and spillovers to FX markets