Financial Technology and African Capital Markets Post Covid-19

Abstract

This article considers the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on African capital markets. It highlights the challenges and examines the opportunities presented by the crisis. Looking particularly at automation and distributed ledger technology (DLT) such as blockchain, it considers the adoption of industry 4.0 technologies to African capital markets, which is capable of addressing some of the critical challenges of capital markets in Africa. It then considers the challenges and opportunities of adopting these technologies and the role that Regulatory Technology (RegTech) - a subset of Financial Technology (FinTech) - can play in the application of these technologies in Africa. In light of the recent commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, it discusses the significant role of regional cooperation in building thriving capital markets in Africa. It concludes by making some recommendations for building future capital markets in Africa which would be pivotal in driving economic growth across the region post the Covid-19 crisis.