Published: 09 November 2025

South African financial services group Africa Bitcoin Corporation (ABC) is considering listing on either the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) or the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) in a move that could give local investors regulated exposure to Bitcoin, the world's most valuable cryptocurrency.

The development, confirmed by ABC director Stafford Masie during the In Conversation with Trevor Ideas Festival held in Nyanga last week, marks a significant step toward integrating Zimbabwe's capital markets with the global digital asset economy.

"We have dual listed in Namibia, so the Namibians are now connected to us," Masie said. "One of the reasons I am here today is actually to see if we can dual-list on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. It will probably be the US dollar market, but we are still in the exploratory phase - gathering data and engaging stakeholders to see if it's relevant."

If successful, the listing would allow Zimbabwean investors to gain regulated, indirect exposure to Bitcoin through equity purchases - an option currently unavailable due to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's 2018 ban on cryptocurrency trading.

Masie explained that proceeds from the sale of ABC shares would be used to build the company's Bitcoin treasury. "When you buy equity in our business, our mandate is that the proceeds from those sales go directly to building up our Bitcoin treasury," he said. "Our responsibility is to keep building and stacking Bitcoin per share."

ABC's model is designed to cater to investors who want exposure to Bitcoin's performance without directly owning the asset, which remains restricted under local financial regulations. The company is targeting retail investors, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors such as pension funds.

"It's diversification - it makes sense," Masie said. "They can do it in a regulated security on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. It is regulatory-aligned exposure to Bitcoin."

Bitcoin, introduced in 2009, has evolved into a major global asset class, attracting institutional investors such as BlackRock Inc., whose iShares Bitcoin Trust holds an estimated US$86.22 billion in Bitcoin exposure. As of Monday, Bitcoin was trading at around US$107,777, with a market capitalisation of US$2.14 trillion.

In Zimbabwe, cryptocurrencies gained traction around 2017, offering an alternative source of income amid economic challenges. However, the central bank's 2018 directive halted crypto-related activity by financial institutions through its circular on "Virtual Currencies." As a result, local investors missed out on Bitcoin's meteoric rise of over 10,000% since then.

With Zimbabwe now hosting two exchanges - the ZSE, which operates in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), and the VFEX, which trades in US dollars - ABC is assessing which platform offers a more viable regulatory and financial environment for its listing.

Masie argued that Zimbabwe's recurring macroeconomic instability and continued reliance on the US dollar underscore the need for alternative stores of value like Bitcoin. "The problem with the US dollar is that it keeps getting weaker because more and more of it is being printed," he said.

If approved, the listing would make Zimbabwe one of the few African countries offering regulated investment access to Bitcoin through its stock market - potentially positioning the country as a regional pioneer in digital asset integration.
- independent