Kenya Reduces Stablecoin Issuer Minimum Capital Requirement by 40% to $2.32M

According to ChainCatcher, Kenya's National Treasury has lowered the minimum paid-in capital requirement for stablecoin issuers by 40% to approximately $2.32 million, down from the roughly $3.9 million threshold in the March 2025 draft regulations. Under the new framework, Kenya's Central Bank will oversee stablecoin issuers and other virtual asset service providers, with authority to require domestic platforms to halt offshore token issuances.

The regulations mandate that at least 30% of customer funds be held in segregated trust accounts at Kenyan commercial banks, with remaining funds invested in qualified domestic assets. Issuers must maintain a liquidity reserve of either $463,300 or 100% of liquid liabilities (whichever is higher), hold qualified reserve assets on a 1:1 basis, conduct quarterly stress tests, and ensure customer redemptions at par value within two business days.