The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has admitted six companies into its Regulatory Sandbox, a move designed to test and refine the country’s framework for digital assets over the next year.
Why it matters
As Ghana looks to formalize its crypto and digital asset sector, this “controlled experiment” allows the central bank to foster innovation while mitigating risks like fraud and money laundering before full-scale licensing begins.
The details
The BoG announced on Jan. 22, 2026, that the following six firms have been cleared to participate:
- Transika Ltd.
- One Africa Securities Ltd.
- Mansu Technologies Ltd.
- Payafrione GH Ltd.
- Akuna Wallet Ltd.
- Afrix Paycoin Ltd.
The big picture
The one-year pilot focuses on four key pillars of the virtual asset ecosystem:
- Exchange: Platforms for buying and selling assets.
- Custody: Secure storage solutions.
- Administration: Management of digital asset flows.
- Issuance: The creation of new virtual assets.
What they’re saying
The central bank emphasized that this initiative is about “strengthening market integrity.”
However, the approval isn’t a blank check—the BoG reserved the right to yank firms from the program if they fail to meet performance or compliance standards.
Between the lines
This move follows the draft Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill, 2025. By using a sandbox, Ghana is signaling a “regulation through observation” approach, allowing the BoG to see how these technologies behave in the real world before the final law hits the books.
What’s next
The results of this one-year testing phase will likely inform the final licensing requirements for all virtual asset providers in Ghana, expected to be fully operational by late 2026.
