The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the first cohort of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) admitted into its newly established regulatory sandbox, developed to operationalise the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154).
In a statement issued in Accra, the Commission said the sandbox will enable eligible VASPs to pilot their products and services in a controlled environment under SEC supervision.
The initiative, the SEC explained, forms part of efforts to promote responsible innovation while ensuring investor protection, market integrity, and compliance with anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing standards.
The 12‑month sandbox period will allow participants to test their services, with the possibility of progressing to full activity‑based licensing after the first six months, provided they meet all regulatory requirements.
The companies are Africoin, Blu Penguin, GOLDBOD, HanyPay, Hyro Exchange Gh Ltd, and HSB Global.
The rest are KOINKOIN, Whitebits, Vaulta, Xchain are Bsystem Ltd.
VASPs whose innovations require additional refinement may continue in the sandbox for the full duration.
According to the SEC, insights from the sandbox exercise will support the development of guidelines for activity‑based licensing categories under Act 1154.
These guidelines will subsequently be published, opening the door for all VASPs to apply for licensing or registration.
Their participation, the Commission noted, will help validate draft regulatory guidelines under the Schedule of Act 1154.
Source: businesspostonline
