We are open to Blockchain, But What Problem are You Solving – Governor, CBK

The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Patrick Njoroge, has once again reiterated his position on blockchain and cryptocurrencies saying that they lack a real use case.

Mr. Njoroge was speaking during The 2021 Africa Financial Industry Summit by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank.

Speaking during the event, the Governor said:

“I have no problem with blockchain but what problem are you solving?

For sometime now, blockchain was the solution for everything. I think we’ve now gotten to the point of…show me the solution. Show the money, so to speak. 

In terms of crypto…crypto was supposed to be the solution to all our payment issues.

The issue is move from ideas to actual solutions. Build them.”

                      – Governor, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Mr. Njoroge said that rather than focus on crypto and blockchain, the regulator, as a policy maker, is thinking about the post-COVID recovery, payment rails, lending, micro-insurance, and savings.

“What we’re focusing on here is the democratization of financial services. I think FinTech would do that very well.”

                     – Governor, CBK

Some of the key speakers who spoke at the event include:

• Patrick Njoroge – Governor, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)
• Tiemoko Meyliet Kone – Governor, Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
• Herbet Wigwe – CEO, Access Bank
• Ahmed Shide – Minister of Finances and Economic Development, Ethiopia
• Brahim Benjelloun-Touimi – CEO, Bank of Africa
• Nezha hayat – President, Capital Markets Authority, Morocco
• Ade Ayeyemi – CEO, EcoBank
• Sitoyo Lopokoiyit – CEO, M-PESA Africa & CFO, Safaricom
• Bola Adesola – VC for Africa, Standard Chartered
• Joshua Oigara – CEO, KCB
• Wamkele Mene – Secretary General, AfCFTA
• Aida Diarra – Senior VP for Sub-Saharan Africa, VISA

Mr. Njoroge’s comments come just a few months after he said that while bitcon and other cryptocurrencies do have a place in the current economy, these need to be mapped out. He also said that cryptocurrencies currently just seem more like speculative assets than anything else.

The governor has, for the longest time, been a critic of cryptocurrencies in general which has seen the regulator impose restrictions and warnings to banks to stay away from cryptos.

Meanwhile, Joe Mucheru, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Kenya, is a big proponent of cryptocurrencies and has always called for positive regulation in the space.