Akuna Wallet Enters Ghana Central Bank’s VASP Regulatory Sandbox to Build Creator Payment Rails
The Stellar-powered platform aims to cut the more than 8% fees African creators lose on cross-border earnings, starting with Bank of Ghana oversight
Accra, Ghana — [12 March 2026] — Akuna Wallet, the financial platform co-founded through a partnership between the Akuna Group, founded by Sir Idris Elba and the Stellar Development Foundation, has been admitted into the Bank of Ghana's Virtual Assets Regulatory Sandbox, the central bank announced. This phase of Akuna Wallet's services under the supervision of the Bank of Ghana is scheduled to begin in February 2026, with broader public onboarding planned for later in the year, following regulatory review and approval.
The admission makes Akuna Wallet one of the first entities selected to help shape Ghana's virtual asset regulatory framework following the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154). The sandbox provides a structured, supervised environment for testing technology and operational safeguards as Ghana builds out its regulatory approach to digital assets. The company views its admission into the Sandbox as an important step in aligning modern financial tools with Ghana’s evolving regulatory architecture.
Akuna Wallet is building financial infrastructure for Africans who earn across borders including creators, digital entrepreneurs, and freelancers whose income originates from global platforms but who lack reliable, affordable tools to receive, hold, and transact. Global payments to Sub-Saharan Africa cost an average of 8.8% of the amount sent — nearly three times the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%. That means a creator earning $1,000 from a global platform can lose nearly $90 just trying to access their own income. Africa's creator economy is valued at an estimated $5 billion and projected to reach nearly $18 billion by 2030. As millions more earners are projected to face these costs each time they access their income, Akuna Wallet is designed to bridge that gap.
Built on the Stellar network, Akuna wallet is designed to enable creators to receive global payments, hold value digitally, and convert and spend in local currency. Powered by virtual asset infrastructure within the regulatory sandbox framework, the platform aims not only to improve payments efficiency but to lay the foundation for offering broader financial services that support the long-term financial security for Africa’s creators.
As millions more earners are projected to face these costs each time they access their income, Akuna Wallet—built on the Stellar network—is designed to bridge that gap.
"Across Africa there are millions of creators, freelancers and digital entrepreneurs doing incredible work but the financial systems supporting them haven’t always kept pace. What excites me about Akuna Wallet is the mission to change that - giving creators better access to the tools they need to earn, hold and move their money with confidence. Moments like this represent real progress toward building a financial system that works for the next generation of African talent." said Sir Idris Elba, co-founder of Akuna Wallet.
"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.
“We are seeing creativity become a real economic engine for this generation, and we are deeply bullish about the next phase of growth. Creators are already building global audiences and meaningful income streams, but the financial infrastructure around them still has major gaps. The Bank of Ghana’s Virtual Assets Sandbox is the first step in a much larger journey as we build the financial infrastructure and modern monetisation models to empower African creators to compete on a global level.” said KJ Owusu-Agyeman, Akuna Wallet Africa CEO.
Akuna Wallet looks forward to engaging constructively with the Bank of Ghana to contribute to the responsible development of blockchain and virtual asset regulatory frameworks in Ghana.
"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.
For updates on Akuna Wallet’s progress and product developments, visit www.akunawallet.com or download the Akuna Wallet app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store here: https://linktr.ee/akunawallet.
Media Contact: press@akunawallet.com
About Akuna Wallet
Akuna Wallet is a next-generation fintech platform built to make opportunity as borderless as talent. Founded by Sir Idris Elba’s Akuna Group in partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation, Akuna Wallet is creating digital financial tools that empower creators, fuel Africa’s creative economy, and connect local talent to global opportunity. Learn more at akunawallet.com.