Crypto chamber launches institute to bridge skills gap

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1 – The Virtual Assets Chamber of Commerce has unveiled two new bodies aimed at formalising Africa’s digital assets sector as global adoption of cryptocurrencies accelerates.

The industry group announced the launch of a Standards Council and a Virtual Assets Institute, marking a shift from fragmented innovation toward a more structured and regulated ecosystem.

The Standards Council will coordinate regulators, financial institutions and virtual asset firms to harmonise rules and reduce fragmentation across jurisdictions, a move seen as key to enabling cross-border operations and attracting institutional capital.

Meanwhile, the Virtual Assets Institute will focus on building technical and regulatory expertise through training and certification programmes targeting financial institutions, compliance professionals and policymakers.

The move comes as global financial players expand into digital assets. Asset manager BlackRock has seen strong uptake of its crypto-linked products, highlighting rising investor demand for regulated exposure.

Across Africa, the sector remains underdeveloped and unevenly regulated despite growing usage driven by mobile penetration and demand for alternative financial systems.

In Kenya, draft Virtual Asset Service Provider Regulations, 2026 signal a shift toward formal oversight, with the Nairobi Securities Exchange also showing increasing interest in the space.

Analysts say addressing the skills gap and improving regulatory clarity will be critical to unlocking investment and scaling the sector across the continent.