Departmental Papers

This paper takes stock of developments and policy issues related to digital payments innovations across sub-Saharan African (SSA), including central bank digital currency (CBDC), fast payments systems (FPS), mobile money, and crypto assets, which are now at the forefront of policymakers’ attention in the region. Drawing on insights from a recent IMF survey of SSA central banks (Ricci and others, 2024), the analysis is grounded in the unique characteristics of SSA compared with other regions. The paper offers tailored recommendations related to policy, regulation, and design, aimed at strengthening the digital payment landscape in the region. It notes the important role of strengthening digital infrastructure and leveling the playing field for private sector involvement through an enabling, competitive, interoperable and secure operating environment. The development of mobile money and FPS should be encouraged. CBDCs can complement these and could be pursued when there are well-identified market failures or other strategic reasons that require public intervention in the digital payment space. While crypto assets (especially adequately backed stablecoins) can support financial innovations, they are also associated with risks that should be contained through comprehensive regulations. Crypto assets should not be adopted as legal tenders. Stronger collaboration across borders can foster efficiency gains and international interoperability of payment systems.