The Africa Blockchain & Crypto Conference (ABCC 2026) is set to take place on November 25, 2026, at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa in Cotonou, Benin. Organized by the UEMOA Fintech Alliance, the conference aims to bring together public authorities, regulators, financial intelligence units, banks, fintechs, investors, and cybersecurity specialists. The event's theme is "Digital Assets in UEMOA: Building Trust through Regulation, Securing Ecosystems, and Unlocking Value." The conference seeks to address the growing importance of crypto-assets, stablecoins, and blockchain applications in Africa.
The UEMOA region currently lacks a regulatory framework for crypto-assets, despite their increasing popularity. In July, BCEAO Governor Jean-Claude Kassi Brou stated that work on a regulatory framework was underway with the AMF-UMOA, but no publication date was provided. The central bank has also excluded crypto-asset-related projects from the first cohort of its financial innovation laboratory. This regulatory gap poses risks to users and institutions, including fraud, financial losses, and operational failures.
The ABCC 2026 conference will focus on five key areas: building a suitable legal and fiscal framework, strengthening anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (LBC/FT), prioritizing cybersecurity, developing cross-border payments and tokenization, and enhancing skills and supervised experimentation. These areas are considered crucial for creating a safer and more coherent regional environment for crypto-assets. The conference aims to produce six key documents, including a regional action plan, with follow-up at six and twelve months.
The first area of focus is establishing a suitable legal and fiscal framework for crypto-assets and related services. This involves clarifying the legal qualification of digital assets, defining the responsibilities of intermediaries, and determining fiscal obligations and user protection mechanisms. A balanced approach is needed to prevent risks while allowing innovative financial services to develop. Overly restrictive regulations could drive operators to more lenient jurisdictions, while inadequate regulation would expose users and institutions to risks.
The second area of focus is strengthening LBC/FT measures to secure digital financial flows. While blockchain technology offers unprecedented transaction traceability, its use in complex financial circuits can facilitate illicit operations. Developing new investigation and analysis capabilities is essential to identify and track suspicious transactions and high-risk financial circuits. This requires cooperation between financial supervisors, financial intelligence units, banks, and digital platforms.
Cybersecurity is another critical area, as digital assets and blockchain-based infrastructures require advanced technical expertise to secure. Risks include asset conservation, cryptographic key management, smart contract security, and fraud prevention. A technical failure or cyberattack could have significant consequences, emphasizing the need for robust security measures and international cooperation to address these challenges.
The conference's outcomes are expected to contribute to a coordinated response to the growth of crypto-assets in the UEMOA region. By addressing regulatory, security, and operational challenges, the ABCC 2026 aims to foster a safer and more enabling environment for the development of digital assets and blockchain technology in Africa. The event's success will depend on the active participation of stakeholders and the implementation of the agreed-upon measures.
Key points
- The ABCC 2026 conference will address five key areas: regulation, anti-money laundering, cybersecurity, cross-border payments, and skills development.
- The UEMOA region currently lacks a regulatory framework for crypto-assets, despite their increasing popularity.
- The conference aims to produce six key documents, including a regional action plan, with follow-up at six and twelve months.
