Bringing Together HR Leaders to Shape the Modern Workplace in South Africa

16th September 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg, 3 July 2026: As South Africa’s business landscape evolves in response to rapid technological advancement, changing workforce expectations, and increasing economic complexity, the role of Human Resources has become more strategic than ever before. Today, HR leaders are responsible for workforce planning, leadership development, employee experience, skills transformation, and building organisational capability while aligning people strategies with business priorities.

Recognizing the critical role of HR in shaping the evolving workforce, Exito Media Concepts, a global B2B events organiser, announces the 5th Edition of HR World Summit South Africa 2026, taking place on 16 September 2026 at Focus Rooms – Universe, Johannesburg. Designed as a platform for industry discussions and networking, the summit will bring together more than 200 CHROs, HR Directors, People & Culture Leaders, Talent Acquisition Heads, Learning & Development Executives, Employee Experience Specialists, business leaders, and solution providers to discuss workforce planning, leadership, talent strategy, and the future of work.

Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, fireside conversations, and interactive sessions, attendees will explore strategies for addressing today’s workforce challenges and preparing organisations for AI adoption, evolving workforce expectations, and future skills requirements. The summit offers HR leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas, build strategic partnerships, and explore current workforce trends.

Shaping the Next Chapter of Work and Leadership

organisations across South Africa are adapting to rapid technological advances, changing workforce expectations, and shifting business priorities. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and data-driven decision-making are redefining how organisations operate, compete, and manage their workforces.

To remain adaptable, organisations must rethink traditional approaches to leadership, talent management, learning, employee wellbeing, and organisational culture. HR leaders are integrating AI into HR processes, strengthening employee engagement, expanding learning and development initiatives, and building skills needed for an increasingly digital workplace. The summit agenda addresses these priorities through industry discussions, case studies, and real-world examples.

The agenda focuses on the key workforce priorities shaping HR strategy across South African organisations.

Key discussions will include:

• Navigating Work, Leadership, and Innovation in a rapidly changing business landscape
• Exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence in HR and workforce planning
• Strengthening employee wellbeing and workforce engagement
• Building skilled workforces for an evolving world of work
• Developing strategies to attract, retain, and develop talent
• Building a culture of continuous learning and skills development
• Learning from CHROs on people, culture, and change management
• Creating inclusive workplaces that support innovation and organisational performance

These discussions will provide practical insights, case studies, and proven approaches that HR leaders can apply across talent management, leadership development, employee experience, and workforce planning.

A Platform Where HR Leaders Shape the Future

The summit will provide delegates with practical examples of workforce transformation, leadership development, HR technology adoption, and people strategy from organisations across

South Africa.

Alongside the conference sessions, attendees will have opportunities to network with peers, connect with solution providers, and exchange real-world insights on workforce trends and workforce challenges.

Learn from South Africa’s Leading HR Visionaries

The speaker lineup includes HR leaders from organisations including:

• Tebogo Maenetja- Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN
• Michele Seroke- Chief Human Resources Officer, Mediclinic
• Nomsa Lewisa- CIO Group Human Technology, First Rand
• Mikateko Nkuna- Valoyi, Managing Executive: Talent & Culture, Vodacom
• Lerato Thelejane- Executive: People Change Readiness and Enablement, Absa Group

Event Details

Event: 5th Edition of HR World Summit South Africa 2026

Date: 16 September 2026

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Venue: Focus Rooms – Universe, Johannesburg, South Africa

About Exito Media Concepts

Exito Media Concepts is a global B2B events organisation with over 16 years of experience delivering conferences across technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, healthcare, finance, human resources, and other industries.

Exito brings together business leaders, solution providers, and decision-makers through conferences focused on knowledge sharing, collaboration, and executive networking.

For more details on the HR World Summit South Africa 2026, visit:

https://exito-e.com/hrworldsummit/south-africa/

For Media Enquiries, please contact:

Ashrith Shetty | Senior Marketing & PR Executive, Exito Media Concepts Email: ashrith.shetty@exito-e.com

Stand With Crypto, an advocacy organization launched by Coinbase in 2023, endorsed 32 candidates for House of Representatives seats ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections based on their digital asset policy views. 

In a Monday notice, Stand With Crypto said its slate of 32 candidates for the 2026 midterm elections was part of efforts to influence digital asset policy in the federal government. The organization said it had endorsed politicians who were “proven digital asset policy champions,” also targeting competitive races “where Stand With Crypto advocate numbers are most likely to influence outcomes.”

“Crypto Voters have become a durable, motivated voting bloc, which has the potential to swing key congressional races in the midterms,” said Stand With Crypto executive director Mason Lynaugh, adding:

“The midterms come at a key inflection point for crypto policy in Washington, D.C. As candidates from both parties are trying to reach voters outside of more traditional constituencies, they overlook Crypto Voters at their own peril.”

The move comes as some experts expect crypto policy to be a potential swing issue for voters in many close elections. Stand With Crypto announced six candidates for its first group of endorsements in March — three Republicans and three Democrats — all of whom advanced from their primaries to compete in the November election.

Related: Ripple- and Coinbase-funded PAC spends $2M in Florida race with little mention of crypto

During the 2024 election cycle, organizations and political action committees (PACs) backed by crypto companies spent more than $170 million supporting candidates they considered to favor the industry, many of whom went on to win their races. Stand With Crypto said that more than 270 “pro-crypto“ candidates were sent to Congress in 2025, potentially influencing votes on legislation like the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

CLARITY vote still waiting for Senate’s return

The makeup of the next US Congress in both the House and Senate could potentially impact whether a comprehensive crypto market structure bill becomes law. Although the House passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act with bipartisan support in July 2025, the Senate’s consideration of the legislation has been marked by discussions over ethics, tokenization and stablecoin rewards.

CLARITY is scheduled for a cloture motion once the Senate returns from recess on Sept. 15, but the chamber will only have 14 days in session before breaking before the November election. After the midterms, the Senate will have another 22 days before 2027 to return the bill to the House, after which it could then head to the president’s desk for approval.

Last week, President Donald Trump stood alongside several crypto CEOs and executives, urging the Senate to pass a “fair version” of CLARITY. However, the Trump family’s financial ties to the industry could complicate a potential vote, with a majority of Americans calling the crypto investments not “appropriate” in a recent poll.

Magazine: Bitget CEO isn’t buying the Bitcoin rally — She’s waiting for $50K

Intelligent Finance for a Digital-First Economy

17 September 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg, 3 July 2026: As organisations across South Africa adopt digital technologies, accelerate digital initiatives, advance digital capabilities, navigate economic uncertainty, and adapt to an increasingly data-driven business environment, the role of the Chief Financial Officer has evolved far beyond traditional financial stewardship. Today’s finance leaders are expected to guide capital allocation, strengthen liquidity management, improve forecasting accuracy through FP&A and predictive analytics, oversee enterprise risk, and lead the adoption of AI and digital finance technologies that support informed business decision-making.

The CFO Leadership Summit South Africa, taking place on 17 September 2026 at Focus Rooms – Universe, Johannesburg, is set to convene South Africa’s prominent finance leaders, CFOs, and industry experts to discuss how CFOs are strengthening financial resilience, improving capital efficiency, modernising finance operations, and preparing organisations for an increasingly data-driven economy. As one of the region’s prominent gatherings of finance executives, the summit will bring together over 200 CFOs, Finance Directors, Group Finance Executives, Controllers, Treasury Leaders, Risk & Compliance Heads, Tax Leaders, Digital Finance Experts, business leaders, and technology innovators to explore the strategies, technologies, and leadership approaches shaping the future of finance.

Designed as a major platform for sharing insights and executive networking, the summit will facilitate discussions among senior finance professionals, industry experts, and solution providers committed to supporting finance transformation. Through keynote presentations, executive panel discussions, fireside conversations, and interactive sessions, attendees will gain practical insights into AI-powered finance, modern FP&A, treasury optimisation, automation, ESG reporting, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.

Redefining Finance Leadership in the Digital Era

South African organisations are navigating economic uncertainty, rising operating costs, evolving regulatory requirements, and rapid advances in AI and automation. As finance teams respond to these challenges, CFOs are increasingly focused on improving forecasting accuracy, optimising liquidity, strengthening governance, and using real-time financial data to support faster business decisions. The summit has been designed to showcase practical case studies, implementation strategies, and lessons from organisations leading finance transformation.

With an agenda focused on emerging finance trends designed for finance and business leaders, the summit will spotlight the key trends transforming modern finance.

Strategic discussions will include

• Architecting Financial Agility in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable economic landscape
• Managing Cash Flow, Controlling Costs, and Optimising Liquidity Through Intelligent, Data-Driven Financial Strategies to Navigate Persistent Inflationary and High-Cost Business Environments
• Advancing Precision Finance through Real-Time FP&A, Predictive Analytics, and Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Redefining the CFO’s Role as a Growth Architect through strategic capital allocation and value creation
• Evolving from a compliance function into a source of competitive advantage
• Integrating ESG and Sustainable Finance to drive long-term profitability, cash flow, and operational efficiency beyond regulatory compliance

These discussions will provide finance leaders with practical approaches to improving forecasting accuracy, strengthening liquidity, modernising finance operations, adopting AI responsibly, and supporting sustainable business growth.

A Platform Where Finance Leaders Drive Business Transformation

The summit will feature a notable line-up of experienced CFOs, senior finance executives, digital transformation leaders, and industry experts representing some of South Africa’s most respected organisations. As a CFO Summit, the event will provide delegates with case studies on finance automation, AI adoption, FP&A modernisation, treasury management, ESG reporting,

regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.

Beyond the conference sessions, the event will offer networking opportunities, enabling senior executives to establish professional connections, exchange ideas with peers, explore AI, FP&A, treasury, ERP, analytics, and finance automation solutions.

Learn from South Africa’s prominent Finance Visionaries

• Mikaeel Tayob- Regional CFO, Bridgestone Middle East & Africa
• Polani Sokombela- Chief Financial Officer, Auditor-General of South Africa
• Qiniso Mthembu– Chief Financial Officer, Johannesburg Stock Exchange
• Akesh Bansee- Chief Financial Officer, Unilever
• Bradley Wentzel- Chief Financial Officer, Barloworld Equipment

Event Details

Event: CFO Leadership Summit South Africa 2026

Date: 17 September 2026

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Venue: Focus Rooms – Universe, Johannesburg, South Africa

About Exito Media Concepts

Exito stands for “success,” a principle reflected in every experience we create. With over 16 years of expertise, Exito Media Concepts is a globally recognised B2B events organisation delivering more than 240 conferences annually across technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, healthcare, finance, human resources, and other emerging enterprise sectors.

Through carefully curated agendas, globally recognised speakers, and market-driven insights, Exito creates high-impact platforms that foster strategic collaboration, accelerate innovation, and enable business leaders to address the evolving challenges of their industries.

For more details on the CFO Leadership Summit South Africa 2026, visit:

https://cfoleadershipsummit.com/south-africa/

For Media Enquiries, please contact:

Ashrith Shetty | Senior Marketing & PR Executive, Exito Media Concepts Email: ashrith.shetty@exito-e.com

CME Group has added three regional U.S. dollar reference rates and real-time indices for Ethena’s ENA token, with daily publication beginning Aug. 24.

CME Group adds ENA rates for three market closes

CME Group said it had added Ethena (ENA) to its single-asset cryptocurrency benchmark suite, extending standardized U.S. dollar pricing to the token across three major trading regions.

Bitcoin reclaimed the $80,000 level on Monday, pushing through a key psychological and technical milestone after last week’s sharp rally drew fresh momentum from traders. The breakout marked BTC’s first trade above $80,000 since mid-May, with price up roughly 3% at the time of reporting before easing after the European session.

As the market tested higher levels, activity on leveraged venues also picked up—most notably in short liquidations—underscoring how crowded positions may have been forced to unwind during the advance.

Key takeaways

• BTC/USD moved above $80,000 for the first time since May 15, ending a more than three-month absence from that range.
• CoinGlass data showed crypto short liquidations passed $220 million over the prior 24 hours as Bitcoin approached the $80,000 mark.
• Support appears to be clustering around the mid-$70,000s, with a bid liquidity band centered on $76,700, according to a CoinGlass liquidation heatmap.
• Analyst Rekt Capital said the “real test” will be whether Bitcoin can sustain strength, pointing to the 50-week exponential moving average near $77,251.

Bitcoin breaks back above $80,000 for the first time since May

TradingView charts showed BTC/USD crossing $80,000 for the first time since May 15, reaching the level during the Wall Street open. The move came alongside another roughly 3% gain on the day before pullbacks occurred following the European close, suggesting the market was still digesting the breakout rather than entering immediately into a smooth trend.

This return matters because it represents more than a single price point. Levels around $80,000 have historically functioned as both a reference for market positioning and a threshold traders watch for continuation signals. When Bitcoin re-enters a range it previously failed to hold for months, it can quickly shift expectations for whether the market is simply rebounding or genuinely transitioning to a stronger phase.

Short liquidations surge as leveraged traders unwind

Higher prices drew in additional leverage-related activity. According to CoinGlass, crypto short liquidations exceeded $220 million over the preceding 24 hours at the time of writing. While liquidations can occur in both directions, large short liquidation bursts typically accompany fast upward moves as price rallies force shorts to cover.

CoinGlass also highlighted a liquidation heatmap feature: a band of bid liquidity centered around $76,700. In practical terms, that cluster can act as a near-term “gravity point” during pullbacks—buyers who respond to forced liquidation dynamics may help slow a downside reversal if price falls back toward that zone.

Still, it’s important to remember that liquidation clusters are reactive, not predictive. They can help explain why certain retracements stabilize, but they don’t guarantee that a move back down will be limited or that new support will permanently hold.

The focus shifts from rally to “staying power”

Even with Bitcoin returning to a key higher range, market observers emphasized that sustaining the breakout is the real challenge. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph had flagged concerns among some traders that bearish market patterns could reassert themselves later in the year, with downside potentially returning from September onward to trigger broader capitulation to new macro lows.

In that context, the latest push above $80,000 looks less like a finish line and more like the opening stage of a longer test. Rekt Capital, a trader and analyst, argued in his market commentary that Bitcoin must prove it can hold those levels. He pointed out that Bitcoin has closed the week at the highs and framed the next phase as a “real test” for whether strength persists.

“Bitcoin has Weekly Closed at the highs. Now starts the real test,”

Rekt Capital also cautioned that if the rally is only a “bear market relief” bounce, Bitcoin could pull back as early as the current week or within the following few weeks. That distinction—relief rally versus durable trend—has major implications for traders and portfolio managers because it changes expectations around volatility, timing of entries, and the likelihood of retesting lower ranges.

Key technical level in view: the 50-week EMA

Rekt Capital highlighted one technical benchmark in particular: the 50-week exponential moving average, currently around $77,251. He noted that Bitcoin achieved its first weekly close above that trend line since November 2025.

He also drew a comparison to the 2022 bear market, when BTC/USD managed two weekly closes above the same type of trend line before subsequently dropping to cycle lows. The point of the comparison isn’t to claim a repeat outcome, but to show how quickly markets can revert when trend-breaking closes occur without sustained follow-through.

For investors watching this level, the near-term question becomes whether price can remain above a widely tracked dynamic benchmark long enough to change market structure. If Bitcoin continues to close above the 50-week EMA and keeps higher levels defended on retracements, it would strengthen the case that the rebound is progressing into something more persistent. If not, the market may revert back toward the mid-$70,000s where liquidation-driven support has begun to form.

Next, traders are likely to monitor whether Bitcoin can hold above $80,000 on subsequent sessions and, more importantly, whether weekly closures continue to support the breakout thesis. The debate between “relief rally” and “sustained strength” will likely hinge on follow-through around the 50-week EMA near $77,251 and how price behaves during pullbacks toward the liquidation liquidity band centered at $76,700.

Polish prosecutors have reportedly charged Przemysław Kral, the head of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto, in connection with an alleged large-scale fraud, and he has started cooperating with investigators, according to reporting from Onet.

Onet says Kral is seeking a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony that could include details about how Zondacrypto funding was linked to right-wing political figures in Poland. Prosecutors estimate that Zondacrypto customers lost at least 2.4 billion Polish zlotys (about $650 million), and investigators allege that only part of customer funds was used to buy crypto, while the remainder was moved to private accounts controlled by exchange managers.

Key takeaways

• Przemysław Kral of Zondacrypto has reportedly been charged and is cooperating with Polish prosecutors.
• Prosecutors estimate customer losses at least 2.4 billion zlotys (about $650 million).
• Investigators allege Zondacrypto used only a portion of customer funds to purchase crypto and diverted the rest to private accounts.
• Kral is reportedly trying to secure a reduced sentence through testimony, potentially touching on alleged exchange-related political funding.
• Earlier public statements included a claim that Zondacrypto could not access a cold wallet holding roughly 4,500 Bitcoin.

Cooperation talks and the alleged damage

Onet reports that prosecutors estimate Zondacrypto customers lost at least 2.4 billion zlotys. The outlet also states investigators believe the exchange did not preserve customer money in full, but instead used only part of customers’ funds to buy cryptocurrency, with additional amounts allegedly transferred to private accounts under the control of Zondacrypto’s managers.

According to Onet, Kral began exploring cooperation conditions weeks ahead of the reported charge outcome. The outlet previously reported that he had been negotiating the terms of possible collaboration with prosecutors for about six months.

That reporting also described informal meetings between Kral and prosecutors in Poland as well as in locations including Sicily and parts of the Persian Gulf, where discussions reportedly focused on the structure of a potential deal.

Allegations tied to political connections

In the newest Onet report, the outlet says Kral is seeking a lighter sentence by offering testimony that could include details about alleged Zondacrypto involvement with funding right-wing politicians.

The political angle is not new to the Zondacrypto case. Onet previously reported that Zondacrypto had acted as a key sponsor of Poland’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) shortly before the second round of the presidential election, which was won by Karol Nawrocki.

Onet also notes that in its final year, Zondacrypto spent 37 million zlotys on advertising with broadcaster Telewizja Republika. The outlet further claims that companies owned by Kral made payments to foundations linked to politicians Zbigniew Ziobro and Przemysław Wipler.

What Kral said earlier about the missing Bitcoin

Since mid-April, Kral has remained publicly silent on X after disclosing that Zondacrypto was unable to access a cold wallet reportedly holding about 4,500 Bitcoin. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted the wallet access issue and described the resulting withdrawal crisis.

Kral has denied accusations of misappropriating customer funds. He said the private keys for the wallet were intended to have been transferred by Zondacrypto founder and former CEO Sylwester Suszek, who has been missing since 2022.

That explanation has been central to how the case has been discussed publicly: rather than conceding fund loss, Kral pointed to an alleged custody and key-transfer failure involving Suszek. Prosecutors’ latest estimates and alleged diversion of funds, as described by Onet, suggest investigators view that narrative differently.

Unanswered questions as the probe expands

As the case moves into the cooperation phase, several issues remain unclear based on the available reporting. Onet’s claims focus on the scale of customer losses and the alleged path of diverted funds, but they do not establish in detail how investigators quantify losses or reconcile them with any remaining assets, including the purported cold wallet.

Cointelegraph reported that it was unable to reach Kral or Zondacrypto for comment. The outlet said email addresses connected to the exchange were unavailable after Kral’s April disclosure about the wallet access problem.

For investors and market participants, the Zondacrypto situation underscores a persistent pattern seen in major exchange collapses: customer assets may be at risk not only through outright theft, but also through custody failures, opaque internal controls, and use of funds in ways that do not align with client expectations. The investigation’s alleged findings—customers’ funds being partially used for purchases while the rest allegedly moved to private accounts—highlight why transparency around wallet management and auditability matters, especially in jurisdictions where recovery and enforcement can take time.

Readers should watch next for what Kral’s cooperation ultimately produces in court filings—particularly whether testimony about alleged political funding is corroborated by evidence and how prosecutors account for the missing Bitcoin and any other recoverable funds. The case also raises broader questions about how regulators and law enforcement will evaluate the relationship between exchange operations, third-party entities, and political influence when rebuilding trust after a collapse.