Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana has begun testing a new regulatory framework for digital assets, with 12 firms admitted into a virtual asset sandbox designed to shape the future of crypto oversight in Ghana.
The sandbox, launched in March 2026, allows selected companies to pilot blockchain-based products under controlled conditions as part of efforts to implement the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025.
Participants are currently conducting limited live trials, which will be evaluated later this year and into early 2027. Based on their performance, firms may receive full regulatory approval, be asked to extend testing, or be removed from the programme.
The initiative is structured as a 12-month process split into two phases. The first phase focuses on proving market readiness and compliance, while the second allows for refinement or early transition into licensing for successful firms.
Regulators say the sandbox will help address the challenge of supervising a fast-evolving sector by allowing real-time observation of operations before finalising licensing rules. Key focus areas include anti-money laundering safeguards, consumer protection and cybersecurity.
The move marks a significant shift in Ghana’s regulatory landscape, following the passage of Act 1154, which formally legalised cryptocurrency-related activities—though not as legal tender—and requires operators to be licensed by both the SEC and the Bank of Ghana.
Officials say the sandbox is intended to ensure innovation develops within a structured and transparent framework, while protecting investors and maintaining financial stability.
By: Toma Imirhe / businesspostonline
