The South African Reserve Bank has placed crypto assets and stablecoins into a new, closely monitored structural risk category after a sharp rise in domestic adoption. The move signals heightened oversight and the likelihood of tighter rules for banks, exchanges and issuers.
The South African Reserve Bank says there is no urgent case for a retail central bank digital currency and recommends prioritizing wholesale and cross-border CBDC work instead. The conclusion comes in a report released on Nov. 27, 2025.
South Africa’s Reserve Bank has warned that rising adoption of digital assets, particularly stablecoins, could threaten financial stability. Regulators may step up monitoring and consider tighter rules as risks around backing, liquidity and cross‑border flows grow.
Discovery Bank has partnered with crypto exchange Luno to allow clients to buy, sell and manage digital assets directly inside its mobile banking app, the bank announced on 18 November 2025. The integration makes Discovery the first large South African bank to embed crypto trading into everyday banking.
Discovery Bank will let customers trade cryptocurrencies directly inside its mobile banking app from December through a partnership with Luno. This marks the first time a South African bank integrates exchange services into its retail app.