# Kenya central bank expands digital finance licensing

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kenya-central-bank-expands-digital-finance-licensing
> Updated: 2026-07-25T20:14:04.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

In July 2026 Kenya’s Central Bank intensified its regulation of digital finance. On July 14 it approved 25 additional Digital Credit Providers, raising the total licensed digital lenders to 252. The regulator evaluated applications on business model soundness, consumer‑protection measures and the fitness of shareholders and senior management, aiming to broaden financial inclusion while curbing predatory lending.

A week later, on July 25, the Bank issued comprehensive licensing rules for virtual‑asset service providers (VASPs). The new framework sets minimum capital requirements for stablecoin issuers, wallet providers, exchanges and ICO facilitators, and mandates governance, AML, cybersecurity and consumer‑protection standards. By requiring licences for both domestic and foreign crypto firms, Kenya seeks to safeguard investors and provide regulatory certainty for its growing crypto market.

Together, these actions illustrate a coordinated effort by the Central Bank of Kenya to extend formal oversight across emerging digital‑financial services, from mobile‑based lending to virtual assets, to enhance consumer protection and support inclusive growth.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-25: Kenya Implements New Crypto Licensing Rules for Digital Asset Firms

Kenya's Central Bank introduced Legal Notice No. 134 of 2026, setting capital, liquidity and consumer‑protection rules for crypto firms, and gazetted the VASP Regulations to licence and supervise digital asset,

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kenya-implements-new-crypto-licensing-rules-for-digital-asset-firms

### 2026-07-14: Kenya's Central Bank licenses 25 new digital lenders, total rises to 252

Kenya's central bank approved 25 new digital credit providers, raising licensed lenders to 252 and reinforcing consumer‑protection checks amid a growing fintech market.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kenyas-central-bank-licenses-25-more-digital-lenders-raising-total-to-252

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Cite as: Kenya central bank expands digital finance licensing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kenya-central-bank-expands-digital-finance-licensing