Africa Business News: Markets, Energy, Crypto & Investments

From a $1.1 billion crypto theft to renewed power cuts and big infrastructure deals, business across Africa is moving fast. Here you’ll find clear, practical updates that matter to entrepreneurs, investors and everyday readers who want to know how events affect wallets, supply chains and jobs.

Crypto remains headline-grabbing. Bybit’s $1.1 billion loss after an ETH transfer issue tied to Safe.global’s multi-signature setup shows how brittle custody can be. At the same time, market-moving stories — like Binance co-founder CZ’s release and new stablecoins launching on Solana — keep volatility high. If you hold crypto, think about multi-layer security and be ready for sudden liquidity swings.

Energy and fuel trends are shaping business decisions continent-wide. Eskom returned to Stage 3 load-shedding on February 22, 2025, after emergency reserves ran low — a reminder that power reliability still costs companies time and money. South Africa’s recent drop in September fuel prices offers relief, but grid instability and illegal network connections keep risks high. For firms, contingency planning and power-saving measures can cut real losses.

Policy and wages are creating local shocks. In Nigeria, the N70,000 minimum wage faces pressure after petrol costs soared past N1,000 per litre in some cities. The Nigeria Labour Congress says the fuel surge erodes wage gains, and businesses should watch consumer spending and transport costs closely over coming months. Meanwhile, the NNPC defended a subsidiary acquisition amid political scrutiny — a reminder that corporate moves often come under public and legal review.

Quick briefs — headlines you need

• Bybit hack: $1.1B of ETH stolen during a cold-wallet transfer; investigations ongoing.
• Eskom: Stage 3 load-shedding resumed after a 20-day pause due to low emergency fuel.
• Raila Odinga backs Adani Group investments in Kenya, pushing PPPs as growth drivers.
• Nigeria: Petrol surge strains the real value of the new N70k minimum wage.
• Kenya allocates KSH 500M to revive miraa and muguka farming sectors.

What businesses and investors should watch

• Energy costs and reliability — budget for outages, explore backup power and efficiency upgrades.
• Regulatory risk — big deals and acquisitions can attract political pushback; factor in legal review time.
• Currency and fuel volatility — these hit margins and consumer demand quickly in many African markets.
• Crypto security and liquidity — keep custody practices tight and avoid overexposure to one exchange or token.
• Local support programs — watch for government aid or pilot programs (like housing or farming funds) that can shift local demand.

Want timely updates? Follow reports on energy, trade and tech closely, and consider alerts for major stories like hacks or policy changes. That helps you react faster — whether you run a small business, manage investments, or just want to know how today’s headlines affect your household budget.