Google Play is tightening the rules for cryptocurrency apps, and South Africa is one of the countries directly affected.
South African developers seeking to publish crypto exchanges or software wallets on the Play Store must meet specific licensing and registration standards before making their apps available to local users.
According to Google, the new update represents a strategic shift that prioritises regulatory compliance in crypto app distribution:
“If your app targets any listed countries or regions, you will be prompted to complete location-specific forms. Developers who do not possess the necessary registration or licensing for certain jurisdictions must remove those locations from their app’s target markets.”
The South Africa rule
Under the new policy, starting on October 29, any developer who wants to publish a cryptocurrency exchange app in South Africa must be registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
This is the country’s primary financial regulator, responsible for supervising markets and protecting investors.
Interestingly, the policy only applies to cryptocurrency exchanges in South Africa — no specific licensing requirement is listed for software wallets.
That means while wallet apps have more leeway, exchange platforms will face a stricter approval process before being listed.
This adds a new layer of work for developers: not just coding the app and ensuring security, but navigating regulatory paperwork and providing proof of compliance directly to Google.
Why the change?
Google’s update comes as governments worldwide are stepping up oversight of crypto assets. South Africa has started regulating cryptocurrency since the FSCA declared crypto assets a financial product in 2022.
With this change, Google is acting as a gatekeeper, ensuring that apps on its store comply with the law before users can download them.
This, in turn, will help protect consumers from scams, unlicensed platforms, and high-risk services that operate outside legal oversight.
As Google explains, “developers are expected to obtain any additional licensure requirements per local laws. Google Play may also request you to provide further information regarding your compliance in a given jurisdiction.”
What it means for South African developers and users
For South African developers, this could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it might be a hurdle, as smaller startups without FSCA registration could be shut out of the Play Store.
On the other hand, it levels the playing field by ensuring that all exchange platforms meet the same standards, potentially boosting user trust in local crypto services.
For users, this means that crypto exchange apps on Google Play will have gone through both a technical review and a compliance check.
Although this won’t eliminate all risks, it will at least make it harder for fly-by-night operators to slip through.
Meanwhile, the crypto space has seen its share of scams, rug pulls, and failed exchanges in recent years, with many African users losing money to platforms that vanished overnight.
South Africa, one of the most active crypto markets on the continent, has been a prime target for legitimate innovation and bad actors.
By aligning its app store rules with national regulations, Google signals that the free-for-all era of crypto apps is over, at least for countries like South Africa, where financial authorities are now paying closer attention.
This move is not just about bureaucracy; it’s about reducing risk and improving market integrity.
Takeaway for African developers and users
The takeaway for developers is clear: if you want to launch a crypto exchange app in South Africa, start the FSCA registration process now.
The approval timeline can be long, and without that licence, Google Play will simply block all the apps without the local regulator from the local market.
For the wider African audience, this is a global trend where big tech platforms and regulators are finally speaking the same language about crypto.
It might slow down the flood of new apps, but the ones that make it through will have stronger foundations — and that’s a win for users in the long run.