Author(s): Mamadou MBAYE
In Africa, the population over the age of 15 uses banking services with a bank penetration rate of 18.03%. This situation, which tends to improve, is favored by the advent of the internet and technological advances that have introduced new digital and virtual monetary systems. According to the European Bank, virtual currency is a type of unregulated digital money, issued and generally controlled by its creators; it is used and accepted among the members of a specific virtual community. Therefore, it is a dematerialized currency that circulates only through the internet network and can fulfill the main functions of a general equivalent. Although digital, it serves as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. In this context of dematerialization of the financial system, it meets an economic necessity; and its role in financial inclusion is undeniable. In Africa, its presence is increasingly felt. Indeed, it positions itself as a serious alternative to traditional currency in several emerging and developing economies. Our analysis shows that its use is very limited; in its current form, its use as fiat money remains hypothetical