Fintech Law and Regulation: An African Perspective has come about in the context of the increasing call to adapt financial regulation to cater for fintech. The book aims to provide an African perspective on the regulatory and policy issues that fintech has given rise to. The book begins by examining the different aspects of fintech, followed by the development of fintech and its penetration in Africa. Later chapters consider pertinent regulatory and policy issues that have arisen with fintech. In the final chapter, the book highlights the many lessons which can be drawn from the various chapters and makes recommendations to overcome legal and regulatory gaps.

The global financial crisis of 2008 represented a tipping point in the interaction between financial services and technology – the period from then till now has been called the ‘age of fintech boom’. On a continent where fintech is not only ‘disrupting’, but possibly ‘erupting’ rapidly, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of policy and regulatory measures and sometimes the lack of legislation and other legal instruments to provide a sound legal and regulatory framework for fintech. The book suggests that additional research is needed on the practicalities of the drafting of policies, legislation and other regulatory instruments. Regional and continental regulatory coordination and cooperation must be strengthened if our continent is to realise the full potential and benefits of fintech.

What makes this book unique is that it is the first book to explore fintech law and regulation from an African perspective, instead of drawing lessons from Europe, the UK, USA, Canada, and so on. It is written by Africans trying to find regulatory and legal solutions, for Africa. This book will be a useful resource for fintech legal and regulatory scholars, postgraduate students, compliance officers, and regulators, to name a few.

The authors hope it will stir academic and policy discourse on the various issues surrounding fintech.