Africa: Technology

Embedded payments are transforming how consumers transact, moving payment functionality into everyday devices like game controllers, wearables, and connected objects. As South Africa's Reserve Bank modernises its payment ecosystem, businesses must navigate the regulatory implications of making payments invisible while ensuring accountability remains transparent.

The European Banking Authority and European System of Central Banks have published responses to the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation consultation that signal a fundamental shift in EU digital finance architecture. Rather than expanding MiCAR's scope, regulators are focusing on repairing critical interfaces between crypto regulation and traditional financial services, addressing stablecoin liquidity, bank issuance models, group supervision, and the private-law treatment of tokens.

Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission has released comprehensive proposed rules governing digital and virtual asset operations, introducing distinct regulatory categories for exchanges, custodians, and tokenisation platforms. The framework establishes capital requirements ranging from ₦200 million to ₦2 billion, detailed stablecoin reserve requirements, and enhanced investor protection measures across the digital asset value chain. Businesses operating in Nigeria's digital asset ecosystem

The August Policy Trend Trail examines policy developments aimed at improving Nigeria’s economic potential through consumer protection, digital infrastructure, and the operationalisation of existing policy frameworks. The policies considered span across various sectors such as real estate, corporate commercial, taxation, public, postal, and digital economy sectors. Notwithstanding the diversity of sectors, the policy analysis reveals a shared common thread: the need to address structural gaps that have long constrained Nigeria’s economic growth and reduced consumer confidence. This Policy Trail examines not only the substance of each reform, but also the practical implementation questions that will ultimately determine their impact.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the fiduciary and corporate services industries. Automation is increasingly being used across a growing number of processes - this shift is not just on the horizon, it is visible today.

In today’s business world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important technological tool. Recent advances in AI applications and technology advancement have contributed significantly to its growing popularity and adoption across different sectors. Therefore, the advancement of technology now enables computer systems and other machines to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence and participation.

The European Union is fundamentally reshaping how it regulates space infrastructure, moving beyond viewing it as merely a commercial or scientific endeavor to treating it as critical digital infrastructure essential to modern economies.

The EU's Cyber Resilience Act introduces mandatory vulnerability and incident reporting obligations for manufacturers of digital products starting 11 September 2026, well before the broader regulatory framework takes effect. Manufacturers must navigate tight reporting deadlines, determine when they become "aware" of security events, and establish governance structures to comply with 24-hour early warnings and subsequent detailed notifications through a platform that is not yet operational.

Starting September 11, 2026, manufacturers of digital products in the EU must report cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within strict 24-hour and 72-hour deadlines under the new Cyber Resilience Act. Companies face penalties up to €15 million or 2.5% of global turnover for non-compliance, requiring immediate preparation of incident response procedures and assessment of product portfolios to meet these unprecedented product-focused cybersecurity obligations.