Lyle Horsley, the divisional head of the FinTech unit in the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the chairperson of the Intergovernmental FinTech Working Group spoke about the fintech landscape and its impact on the African continent. She discussed the role of regulators in shaping the policy and regulatory environment to support responsible innovation. She highlighted the rise in the use of alternative financial services and mobile payment systems. Lyle discussed the potential implications of new crypto assets in the form of stablecoins and their impact on the financial system. She also explored the concept of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and how they can modernize the existing payment system. The SARB has explored CBDCs through three related projects – retail CBDC study, Project Call K2, and Project Dunbar. Finally, Lyle discussed the advantages of CBDCs for the general public and how they can promote access to a safe and efficient payment system.