Building South Africa’s digital financial rails
The emergence of tokenised assets raises the question whether SA can develop trusted local infrastructure rather than rely on systems built elsewhere.
Fintech
Trevor Manuel: Good regulation is only as strong as its enforcement
The former finance minister says South Africa’s challenge is not a shortage of regulation, but ensuring institutions have the people, skills, and capacity to implement it effectively.
A paradigm, not an upgrade: Understanding the socio-technical shift of agentic AI
The emergence of AI systems capable of planning and acting autonomously presents a governance challenge that cannot be addressed simply by treating them as more advanced technological tools.
Fintech Kastelo weighs walking away from appealing blocking order
The FSP has paused its crypto-arbitrage service after the High Court upheld the SARB’s order, finding reasonable grounds to suspect exchange control contraventions.
AI trade is evolving, not ending, says Ninety One
The biggest technology momentum unwind in 27 years is coinciding with a shift on where value will be created across the AI ecosystem.
Financial services resilient as risks converge
IRMSA says economic weakness, cyber threats, fraud, and climate pressures are increasingly interacting, while digital innovation and financial inclusion offer routes to growth.
How close is South Africa to a digital rand?
While research into a retail CBDC continues, the SARB believes modernising the payment infrastructure will deliver greater near-term benefits.
Discovery Bank enters next phase of ‘super bank’ strategy
The bank says its AI-driven banking and fraud prevention systems have reduced fraud on flagged transactions by 85%.
Naked’s ChatGPT app signals where insurance distribution may be heading
The insurtech says the new app is a step towards a future where AI assistants could help consumers to manage and automate parts of their insurance decisions.
Fintech is booming – but regulation, risk, and trust will decide who wins
Rapid growth in South Africa’s fintech sector is giving way to a tougher phase shaped by regulation, competition, and the race for customer trust.
Discipline, not distress: South Africans rethink how they spend
From weight-loss drugs reshaping grocery spend to online betting redefining entertainment budgets, South Africans are spending more deliberately – and differently.
Discovery posts strong interim results as bank turns profitable
Discovery Bank reports a 28% growth in clients, with nearly 70% of new customers coming from outside the group’s existing membership.
Ruling leaves key exchange control questions unresolved in crypto arbitrage dispute
The case focuses attention on how the exchange control framework applies to crypto platforms that facilitate offshore trading through loans.
Key fintech policy developments to watch in 2026
Regulatory initiatives across payments, digital assets, open finance and embedded finance are expected to progress this year.
Digital payments surge as Black Friday spending rebounds
Data from Discovery Bank and PayInc shows surging online activity, high volumes and cautious but recovering consumer spend this Black Friday.
Trust, not tech, will decide Africa’s digital-asset future
Research across five countries finds consumers prefer banks over crypto platforms, citing security, regulation, and protection from scams.
Sanlam’s AI Coach expands into healthcare
Sanlam Studios’ upgraded AI Coach now offers guidance on medical aid, primary care and gap cover.
