Kenya's CMA Seeks Blockchain Analytics Tool for Crypto Crime Detection

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in Kenya has issued a tender for a Virtual Assets Blockchain Analytics System to monitor over 20 blockchain networks, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, in real-time. The system will be used to detect fraud, money laundering, sanctions evasion, and terrorism financing.

The CMA is building this infrastructure before the implementing regulations are even finalized by the National Treasury. The VASP Act, which passed Parliament in October 2025 and took effect on November 4, 2025, carves up oversight responsibilities between two bodies: the CMA handles capital markets-related virtual asset activities, while the Central Bank of Kenya takes jurisdiction over stablecoins and payment-related crypto services.

This is a significant step towards enforcing the VASP Act, which has been mostly theoretical until now. Companies like Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs have already been selling similar blockchain analytics tools to regulators and financial institutions globally for years.