BitGo exec says Africa’s crypto story is shifting from trading to regulated infrastructure

In short

Africa’s digital asset sector is still early. It has not produced a listed crypto company. But it is already part of the global move toward regulated, institution-led crypto rails.

Whats going on

Nick Coombs, a BitGo executive, argues that many observers misread Africa’s crypto market. The focus often lands on retail trading volumes and price speculation. Coombs points to the less visible layer that institutions need: custody, settlement, and compliance-ready “rails” that connect crypto to regulated finance.

This view frames Africa less as an outlier and more as a region entering the same phase seen elsewhere. Global crypto activity is increasingly shaped by regulation, licensed intermediaries, and institutional-grade infrastructure. In that model, the key work is not a new token or exchange app. It is the plumbing that lets banks, fintechs, and large merchants move and safeguard digital assets under clear rules.

What to watch

The near-term signal is not whether Africa produces a public crypto company. It is whether more infrastructure providers, custodians, and regulated partners set up local coverage. Watch for partnerships that connect crypto custody and settlement to bank rails, payment processors, and stablecoin issuers.

Also track policy moves that clarify how digital assets are held, audited, and reported. If rules harden, institutions can participate with less reputational and operational risk. That can shift activity from informal channels to regulated ones, and change which companies become the long-term winners in Africa’s digital asset stack.