Central Bank of Kenya Seeks Virtual Asset Specialists

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced four new job openings in its Digital Payment Services Division, specifically targeting virtual asset compliance professionals. These roles include positions for licensing, product approval, compliance oversight, and regulatory analysis.

Regulatory Landscape Evolving

This hiring initiative comes as Kenya formalizes regulations around cryptocurrencies with the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act in October 2025. While draft rules were released for public comment on April 10th, they haven’t been officially gazetted yet.

The CBK appears to be taking a proactive approach by building its regulatory capacity before all operational details are finalized—a move that suggests the government views oversight as essential rather than optional.

Why This Matters for Kenya

With crypto adoption already widespread in Kenya, driven by remittances and mobile money integrations, formal regulation is seen as a necessary step to protect consumers and prevent illicit activities. The CBK’s hiring signals a commitment to bringing this digital asset sector under proper oversight.

The move aligns with trends across Africa where regulators are increasingly seeking to integrate crypto into existing financial frameworks rather than ban it outright.