Ghana’s SEC admits 11 firms into a 12-month VASP Act 2025 crypto sandbox, setting the stage for full digital asset licensing across West Africa.
Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission just moved. Eleven virtual asset service providers got access to a regulatory sandbox on March 10, 2026. The pilot runs for 12 months under the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154).
The firms test their products in a controlled environment. Regulators watch risk and compliance in real time. As CoinDesk posted on X, the SEC confirmed companies will operate under direct oversight throughout the period.
Must Read: Ghana Approves Landmark Crypto Law to Regulate Digital Asset Markets
Not all 11 firms do the same thing. Africoin, Blu Penguin, Vaulta, XChain, and Goldbod focus on asset tokenization. Hyro Exchange GH Ltd, HanyPay, and WhiteBits operate as crypto exchanges. HSB Global, KoinKoin, and Bsystem Ltd round out the cohort.
The Six-Month Split Nobody Is Talking About
The sandbox does not run as one flat twelve months. There is a split baked in. Firms whose products are market-ready within the first six months can move directly to a full activity-based license. The ones still refining get the back half.
That distinction matters. It creates two tracks inside the same sandbox window. Fast movers get licensed faster. Slower ones stay under observation.
CoinDesk’s March 11 report described the sandbox as sitting at the center of Ghana’s early oversight push. The SEC’s own press release frames it differently. The commission says the pilot lets it validate draft guidelines across every licensing category listed in the VASP Act schedule. That is the actual goal here.
You Might Also Like: Sub-Saharan Africa Is Now One of the Top-Three Growing Regions in Crypto Adoption
Ghana’s parliament passed the VASP legislation after years of pushback from the central bank. Regulators had been issuing caution notices. Then the posture shifted entirely.
West Africa has no unified crypto framework. None. Ghana is now the one setting the standard, and other markets in the region are watching.
After the Sandbox, Everything Opens Up
The SEC is not just testing firms. It is testing its own draft guidelines. Data from these 11 companies will shape how the commission writes activity-based licensing rules across the board.
Once the sandbox closes, those guidelines go public. Then all VASPs, not just this cohort, can apply for formal registration under Act 1154. The current 11 got first access. The broader market gets its turn after.
You Might Also Like: Blockchain.com Enters Africa Amid Rising Crypto Regulation Shift
Investor protection ties into this directly. So do anti-money laundering controls and counter-terrorism financing standards. The SEC said all three feed into what the sandbox is designed to measure. The press release also tied compliance outcomes to future policy, not just licensing.
The model is not unique to Ghana. The UK’s FCA ran a parallel exercise, admitting four firms to test stablecoin issuance in Q1 2026. Different jurisdiction, same logic. Controlled testing before full rules land.
Worth Reading: UK FCA Picks 4 Firms to Test Stablecoins Ahead of 2027 Rules
The SEC issued this announcement under sections 3 and 208© of the Securities Industry Act, 2016, alongside sections 43 to 50 of the VASP Act 2025.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Iran says the U.S. has agreed to unfreeze about $6 billion in assets, but the U.S. side quickly denies it
An Iranian official source says the U.S. has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets stored in places such as Qatar, as a gesture of good faith in negotiations, and also notes that the funds involve security in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. side denies this claim and reiterates that the funds remain restricted and can only be used for humanitarian purposes.
GateNews2h ago
XRP CLARITY Act Vote in Focus as XRP Holds $1.34 and Senate Returns April 13
XRP is trading at $1.34 as traders await the Senate's action on the XRP CLARITY Act, with potential for significant ETF inflows. The Banking Committee's markup is expected in late April, crucial for defining XRP’s regulatory status.
Cryptonews7h ago
Iran’s president: The delegation will head to Pakistan for negotiations, working tirelessly to safeguard the country’s interests.
Gate News message, on April 11, local time on the 11th, Iranian President Pezeshkian posted on social media that the Iranian high-level delegation traveling to Pakistan will do everything to protect the country's interests and will conduct negotiations with a brave attitude. Pezeshkian emphasized that regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, the Iranian government’s work to serve the people will not stop for a moment, and the Iranian government has always stood with the people.
GateNews8h ago
Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee: The market may have already bottomed out; I recommend focusing on the leading assets since the outbreak of hostilities
Bitmine chairman Tom Lee said on the X platform that although there are still doubts in the market, there are signs that the bottom has already formed. He is bullish on Ethereum and related assets and believes crypto is a wartime value-preservation tool. Risk assets may rebound, but it’s important to watch whether the macroeconomic environment and geopolitical situation remain stable.
GateNews9h ago
Trump: If progress in U.S.-Iran talks is not smooth, the U.S. is ready to "restart"
Gate News message: On April 11, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview on April 11 local time that he currently does not know the progress of the negotiations between the United States and Iran that day. When asked whether the U.S.-Iran negotiations have officially started, Trump confirmed and said, "Yes." Regarding whether Iran is conducting sincere talks, he said he would provide an answer within a very short time and it would not take long. When asked whether he was optimistic about this, Trump responded that if things do not go smoothly, the United States is ready to "restart." (CCTV News)
GateNews10h ago
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out attacks on more than 200 Hezbollah targets within Lebanon over the past 24 hours.
The Israel Defense Forces conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting more than 200 locations within the past 24 hours, all of which were associated with the Hezbollah organization. The military continues to strike infrastructure linked to Hezbollah and supports ground forces’ operations to prevent artillery fire attacks on Israel.
GateNews10h ago
