Breaking News Today – Wednesday 25 March 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

• South African Fintech – Littlefish, has Raised an impressive $9.5 million in a Series A funding round, announced yesterday. The round was led by Partech, with participation from TLCOM, Flourish Ventures, and Proparco. Littlefish builds merchant operating systems and financial infrastructure for SMEs across African banks. The capital raise will help scale its platform and expand continent-wide.
• Happy Pay, a South African Fintech group has Secured a $5 million seed funding round. Investors include Partech Partners, Futuregrowth, 4Di Capital, E4E Africa, Equitable Growth, and Felix Strategic Investments. The startup offers an ad-subsidised, zero-interest, zero-fee buy-now-pay-later model and plans to scale its payments network into Africa.

Business News Today 

Kenya Capturing the Crypto Market’s Attention in Africa

More than 50 virtual asset companies, led by Binance, are in talks to establish regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, via the Nairobi International Finance Centre (NIFC). Kenya’s booming crypto adoption (ranked third in Africa with around 733,000 users), new Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, and attractive tax incentives (15% corporate tax for 10 years) are the main draws for these groups to position themselves in this growing market space. NIFC CEO Daniel Mainda confirmed active discussions, while Binance aims to lead the cohort once final regulations are clear. The move could se significant boost in foreign exchange inflows for the country, and see further job creation. The intent is to position Kenya as East Africa’s digital finance hub, and while success will depend on balanced oversight by the CMA and CBK, there are broader impacts in the wider economy that should help boost economic growth.

South African Jet Fuel Supply Secure – Sasol

Sasol, the South African oil and chemicals giant, has made a statement today (25 March 2026) addressing jet fuel supply concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. In a statement reported by Moneyweb, Sasol spokesperson Alex Anderson confirmed that the company has taken proactive steps to secure supply for South African airlines (particularly at OR Tambo International Airport, the country’s main air travel hub). This comes against the backdrop of the Iran-related blockade, which has driven oil prices up to around $112 per barrel since late February and caused jet fuel prices in South Africa to spike (coastal prices rose 70% in a single week in mid-March).

Airlines like FlySafair, Airlink, and SAA have already introduced temporary fuel surcharges, and there have been broader warnings of potential shortages or cancellations if the crisis drags on. Sasol, through its Natref refinery and synthetic fuel operations, is one of the two remaining major inland fuel producers in South Africa and plays a critical role in supplying Jet A-1 to domestic airports.

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:  

• A jury in a court case around safety for children, yesterday ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties after finding the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and endangered children. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said, “The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” 
• The African Development Bank approved a $5.52 million grant to the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) for the Strengthening Tax Administration Capacity Project (STACP-WA). The funds will support six countries in improving domestic revenue mobilisation, governance, and resilience. The initiative aims to enhance compliance, digital capabilities, and fiscal management
• The Bank of Ghana, in partnership with GhIPSS and GFTN, officially launched the 3i Africa Summit 2026 – scheduled for 6–8 May in Accra. The event will convene regulators, central bankers, fintech founders, and investors under the theme of unleashing fintech and digital economic potential.
• Amazon has confirmed that it has acquired Fauna Robotics, a two-year-old startup founded by former Meta and Google engineers who are developing kid-size humanoid robots.The acquisition was first reported by Bloomberg. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
• Brent crude futures dropped almost 5% this morning, to below $100 per barrel reversing the previous session’s gains amid reports that Washington was pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran. Israeli media indicated that the US was seeking a one-month ceasefire to facilitate talks

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar fairly flat against major currencies today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.16005 while trading against the Pound at 1.3396. The Yen is currently trading at 158.87 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR), has remained steady, just below the 17.00 mark against the US dollar, and is currently trading at R16.94 against the US dollar.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures are trading 2.2% higher this morning, and currently at around $4572.46 per ounce.  
• Copper prices are trending 1.4% higher today, with prices currently around $5.5115 per pound
• Silver futures are trending over 3% higher today, and currently trading at around $73.525 per ounce.
• Platinum futures are making a come-back, and trending almost 4% higher this morning, currently trading at $1965.30, While Palladium prices have gained more than 2.7% this morning, and currently trading around $1467.50 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are have slid by over -5% this morning, dropping below $100, with prices currently at $99.15, with WTI trading over -4% lower at $88.55.
• Cocoa futures are trending upwards today, up around 1.73% this morning, with prices currently trading around $3235 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are surging, up by around 3.5% today, and trading at around $3.785 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are trending 0.3% higher this morning, and trading at around $70 739 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are up around 0.2% today, and currently trading around $2160.42
• $Trumpcoin are currently trading upwards at around $3.358

(All prices quoted at approximately 06H45 Central African Time) 

African General News Briefs:

• Hundreds of fuel retailers in Kenya are reportedly running short of fuel supplies due to the current war in the Middle East, a sector representative told Reuters. Around 20% of the country’s independent fuel dealers have already been affected, according to the chairman of the Petroleum Outlets Association of Kenya, Martin Chomba. “We have constrained supply,” Chomba told Reuters. His association represents independent retailers, transporters and others, serving 68% of the national market. Kenya sources the bulk of its fuel from middle-east countries.
• Ghana and the European Union on Tuesday signed their first formal defence partnership, as the country presents itself as a regional barrier against the growing jihadist violence roiling west Africa. The agreement, signed in Accra by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, is aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, intelligence sharing and crisis response.
• Former Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju has been arrested a day after he was reported to have disappeared, leading to fears he may have been abducted.Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said in a press conference that Tuju was inside his residence the whole time, describing it as a “carefully staged disappearance rather than a genuine case of abduction”. Just before his arrest, Tuju had told local station Citizen TV that he had gone into hiding after being followed by an unmarked vehicle.