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.
Fintech
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.
Absa partners with Ripple to offer cryptocurrency custody services in SA
The partnership positions Absa among South African banks exploring blockchain infrastructure, offering secure custody for cryptocurrencies.
FSCA collects R119m in fines amid record enforcement year
In response to South Africa’s greylisting, the Authority has grown its AML/CFT team, increased on-site inspections, and ramped up fines.
Old Mutual banks on late-mover edge as OM Bank goes live
CEO Clarence Nethengwe says arriving after rivals has given Old Mutual the chance to learn what customers really want in digital banking.
Buy now, panic later: a legal deep dive into SA’s payment revolution
This analysis examines whether BNPL falls under the National Credit Act or the FAIS regime, spotlights enforcement gaps, and considers how the pending COFI Bill could plug systemic vulnerabilities.
Competition Tribunal clears TymeBank–Sanlam loan book deal
TymeBank and Sanlam will form SanlamTyme JVCo, combining digital banking muscle with lending expertise in a R5bn unsecured loan book partnership.
In the age of AI, asset managers face a new kind of intelligence test
As artificial intelligence accelerates a quiet revolution in active asset management, Coronation’s Peter Kempen argues the future lies in blending AI’s speed and scale with human intuition and judgment.
AI + empathy: why financial advice’s future is human at heart
Momentum CEO Jeanette Marais says the future of scalable, effective financial advice lies in blending smart tech with emotional intelligence.
FSCA discloses approach to regulating a rapidly changing financial sector
Unathi Kamlana says the Authority will support the integration of advanced technologies and strengthen frameworks for consumer protection, cyber resilience, and financial inclusion.
FSCA eyes DeFi: testing the waters for smarter crypto regulation
As South Africa’s decentralised finance market gains traction, the FSCA is exploring ways to balance innovation with consumer protection.
