REGULATION | Akuna Wallet Enters Central Bank of Ghana VASP Regulatory Sandbox to Build Creator Payment Rails

Akuna Wallet has been admitted into the Bank of Ghana’s Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) regulatory sandbox marking a key milestone in the development of blockchain-based payment infrastructure aimed at African creators and freelancers.

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The sandbox provides a supervised environment where fintech firms can test digital asset services while working directly with regulators before receiving full authorization. The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to bring emerging crypto and fintech innovations under a formal regulatory framework.

Through the pilot, Akuna Wallet plans to build payment rails that allow creators, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs to receive cross-border earnings faster and at lower cost. The company says many African creators lose a significant portion of their income to international payment fees and limited access to global payout systems.

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Working within the central bank’s regulatory framework will allow the platform to refine its tools while ensuring compliance, transparency, and consumer protection as it develops new financial infrastructure for the continent’s growing digital workforce.

Built on the Stellar network, Akuna Wallet is designed to help users receive international payments, issue invoices, and convert funds into local currency via the blockchain. The broader goal is to enable African creators to access global platforms and monetize their work without relying on traditional intermediaries that often exclude local bank accounts.

“There are millions of creators across Africa building global audiences and generating real revenue. However, the financial system charges them on average more than 8% simply to access their earnings. This is not just a fee; it is a barrier. Akuna Wallet exists to remove it,” said Denelle Dixon, Akuna Wallet Co-Founder.

The move also comes as Ghana expands oversight of digital assets. The country recently launched sandbox programs and regulatory frameworks aimed at bringing a multi-billion-dollar informal crypto market into a supervised financial system while supporting innovation in fintech and Web3 payments.

If successful, participation in the sandbox could pave the way for a full license, allowing Akuna Wallet to scale its services across Ghana and potentially other African markets.

“You can’t build trusted financial infrastructure outside of regulatory frameworks. That is not how lasting systems are created.

Working within the Bank of Ghana’s sandbox is exactly how we intend to do this: transparently, collaboratively, and with accountability,” Dixon added.

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