Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it is creating a favourable regulatory environment for the growth of virtual assets in Ghana, with hopes of helping produce the country’s first generation of self-made millionaires and billionaires under the age of 40.
The commission believes the virtual assets sector could transform wealth creation in Ghana and become a major source of entrepreneurship, especially for young people.
Officials say the industry has the potential to provide capital for business growth and long-term sustainability.
Acting Deputy Director-General of the SEC, Mensah Thompson, made the remarks during a virtual assets forum held on the sidelines of the 3i Africa Summit 2026. The forum focused on the theme: “Ghana’s approach to virtual assets: Enabling innovation while safeguarding stability”.
Virtual assets include cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), DeFi tokens, and tokenised securities. These are digital forms of value that people can trade, transfer, or use for payments and investments.
“Virtual assets are going to create a next generation of global billionaires from Africa and from Ghana. Billionaires who created the wealth themselves. And for the first time we are going to see millionaires and billionaires under forty in this country,” Mr Thompson said.
He based his optimism on global trends showing that more than 560 million people around the world now own virtual assets.
He also referred to forecasts suggesting that tokenised assets in areas such as bonds, equities, and real estate could grow to between $10 trillion and $16 trillion by 2030.
Mr Thompson explained that technology-driven innovation now offers young Ghanaians a new path to success beyond inheriting family wealth or traditional businesses.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to build scalable companies in digital finance, blockchain technology, and virtual asset services.
He described Ghana’s improving macroeconomic conditions as a strong foundation for local innovators to create globally competitive businesses.
According to him, the SEC sees itself as a facilitator of innovation rather than a barrier.
“These are not companies in construction or trading, but the next generation of employers are going to be technological builders, innovators in digital, and entrepreneurs – many of whom are here today,” he stated.
Mr Thompson also revealed that the SEC has established a dedicated Virtual Assets Committee. The committee is working together with the Bank of Ghana to implement the Virtual Asset Self-Procurement Act, 2025 (Act 1154), aimed at protecting investors and industry players.
He added that Ghana’s regulatory sandbox is already operational and has admitted 17 firms, including 11 supervised by the SEC and six under the Central Bank.
The sandbox allows selected companies to test crypto-related products under supervision before receiving full licences.
“The sandbox is designed to collect real-time data, so regulations reflect how the technology is used in Ghana, rather than copying models from abroad. The approach is pro-protection, balancing market integrity with growth,” Mr Thompson explained.
He further encouraged local innovators to focus on building digital investment platforms and critical infrastructure solutions. “The assignment for you is to create the future. Don’t study problems only, solve problems so big that industries form around them,” he urged.
Mr Thompson assured participants that the SEC remains committed to protecting investors while supporting innovation. “We have a market to protect. Our approach is anchored on strong investor protection, robust anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, and sound custody and cybersecurity safeguards,” he said.
