Compliance Champions: South Africa Regulatory Framework

What does it take to license nearly 300 crypto companies in a single year?

In this episode of Compliance Champions, we head to South Africa where Delphine sits down with Diketso Mashigo, Department Head for Market entry and licensing at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), to unpack one of the most ambitious regulatory crypto licensing efforts globally.

Diketso shares how South Africa brought crypto asset service providers (CASPs) under the FAIS Act, and what his team has learned from reviewing more than 470 applications, covering exchanges, broker dealers, online trading platforms, advisors services, payment services, on/off ramps, and more.

You’ll hear:

• The FSCA’s phased approach to licensing, supervision, and pre- licensing onsite inspections
• What regulators expect in terms of AML frameworks, market surveillance, and risk assessments
• How South Africa treats derivatives, stablecoins, and tokenization—and where DeFi fits into the roadmap
• Tips for firms applying for a CASP license (and common pitfalls to avoid)

If you’re a crypto compliance leader or policy wonk interested in emerging market regulatory models, this is a must-listen.