bitcoinke.io
1.27K subscribers
938 photos
17 videos
9 files
8.35K links
BitKE is your one-stop destination for all things Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and Blockchain in Africa. We cover events, meetups, and interviews with founders and experts in the cryptocurrency and Blockchain space across Africa. Everything Decentralized !
Download Telegram
🇿🇦 USE CASE | Binance Users in South Africa Can Now Pay for Goods at Over 1,500 Pick n Pay Stores

According to Binance Southern Africa General Manager, Hannes Wessels, nearly 75% of retailers have intentions to accept cryptocurrency payments within the upcoming two years.

Already, CryptoConvert is in partnership with South African exchanges, Luno and VALR. This collaboration enables customers of Luno and VALR to use cryptocurrencies for payments at Pick n Pay.

https://bitcoinke.io/2023/12/binance-users-can-now-pay-at-all-pick-n-pay-stores/
🌍 LIST | Circle Highlights 7 African Fintechs Leveraging the USDC Stablecoin to Provide Better Financial Services to African Users

Jointly maintained by Circle and Coinbase, USDC's primary applications include serving as a stable means for:

* Cross-border payments
* Enabling cost-effective and swift transactions
* A reliable bridge between traditional finance and the emerging digital asset landscape

Circle envisions a future where stablecoins are used by innovators to increase interoperability between the diverse financial systems across Africa.

As listed by Circle, below is a list of African fintechs spearheading the usage of USDC across the African continent:

https://bitcoinke.io/2023/12/list-of-african-fintechs-leveraging-usdc/
REPORT | AI Deepfake Incidents Across Africa 🌍 Increased by 450% in 2023, Crypto Took the Lead

ID cards remain the most frequently exploited for identity fraud, accounting for nearly 75% of all fraudulent activities involving identity documents.

The Ethiopian driver’s license has had the world’s fastest growth
in forgery cases.

The crypto sector stands out as the absolute leader in deepfake cases, followed by fintech. The sector’s digitized nature, potential for significant financial gain, and ongoing regulatory challenges create vulnerabilities that fraudsters exploit.

https://bitcoinke.io/2023/12/ai-deepfake-2023-report/
🇿🇦 REGULATION | Regulator Warns South Africans Over Engaging with Immediate Matrix, a ‘Bitcoin Trading Platform’

The company allegedly publishes false marketing information through articles and videos, utilizing the identities of famous persons. For example, X/SpaceX/Tesla leader Elon Musk was recently used in an article.

https://bitcoinke.io/2023/12/fsca-cautions-public-over-immediate-matrix/
🇿🇦 NOTICE ABOUT 'IMMEDIATE MATRIX' IN SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦

South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has warned the public to exercise caution when engaging with a company named Immediate Matrix.

The company allegedly publishes false marketing information through articles and videos, utilizing the identities of famous persons. For example, X/SpaceX/Tesla leader Elon Musk was recently used in an article.

https://bitcoinke.io/2023/12/fsca-cautions-public-over-immediate-matrix/
🇳🇬 INTRODUCING | The Central Bank of Nigeria Approves Launch of the Africa Stablecoin Consortium to Pilot the cNGN Naira Stablecoin

A monumental shift in the financial landscape unfolds as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) greenlights the Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC) to pilot cNGN (compliant Nigerian Naira StableCoin) in the Central Bank’s Regulatory Sandbox.

This pivotal approval heralds a new financial chapter, with ASC, an alliance of prominent financial institutions, fintech innovators, and blockchain experts, set to transform the dynamics of monetary transactions.

Backed 1:1 by Naira reserves held in designated commercial banks, cNGN transforms traditional currency into a dynamic tool for worldwide remittances, commerce, trade and investment.

See full details:

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/01/introducing-the-africa-stablecoin-consortium/
REPORT | Crypto Owners Grew By Over 34% to 580 Million in 2023 Despite Macro Headwinds

* The number of #Bitcoin (BTC) owners surged by 33%, escalating from 222 million in January 2023 to 296 million in December 2023.

* Simultaneously, #Ethereum (ETH) witnessed a 39% increase in ownership, rising from 89 million to 124 million over the same timeframe.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/01/crypto-ownership-growth-in-2023/
🇪🇬 FUNDING | Egyptian Fintech, Zeal, Secures $4 Million to Scale Services in MENA Region

Established in 2019, Zeal focuses on providing payment solutions to enhance in-store customer engagement and brand loyalty for retailers and offline businesses.

The startup’s SmartPOS Plugin technology allows credit card machines to identify, segment, and retarget in-store customers.

Following its recent expansion to the UK, Zeal now aims to increase its presence in MENA, a region that continues to draw VC interest with 74% year-on-year growth in startup funding in 2023.

According to one of the investors:

"The global payment acquiring space is hungering for value-added service disruptors that can propel the next phase of innovation. We believe that Zeal’s holistic product is a key innovative solution to payment service providers and POS manufacturers globally.”

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/01/egypt-fintech-zeal-secures-funding/
🇳🇬 MILESTONE | SEC Nigeria Accepts the First Blockchain-based Digital Securities Platform into its Incubation Program

According to NASD, the new platform will expedite the process for issuers to tokenize their assets, raise capital, and establish connections with a global network of investors.

The development comes in the wake of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lifting the prohibition on digital asset trading. It marks a significant step forward in promoting an era of innovation that not only boosts transparency but also strengthens trust and inclusion in the Nigerian capital markets.

NASD and Blockstation reportedly collaborated with SEC Nigeria to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/sec-nigeria-accepts-blockchain-platform-into-its-incubation-program/
INTRODUCING | Jambo Unleashes the JamboPhone – The First Web3 Earn Phone for Emerging Markets

Introducing the JamboPhone: the first Web3 earn phone, tailored for emerging markets and priced at an astonishing $99.

The phone will come pre-loaded with the JamboApp which offers:

* Exhilarating gaming via JamboPlay
* Secure multi-chain crypto management through JamboWallet, and
* Lucrative earning opportunities within JamboEarn

all in a single, user-friendly interface.

Since its inception, Jambo has garnered support from industry leaders and top investors including announcing a $30 million Series A round led by Paradigm in May of 2022.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/introducing-the-jambo-phone/
PARTNERSHIP | JamboPhone to Integrate Aptos Network to Expand Web3 Adoption Across Africa

Web3 phone developer, Jambo, is teaming up with Aptos Foundation to open up access to the world of Web3 across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

With a price tag of only $99 and currently accessible in over 40 nations, the JamboPhone serves not only as a gadget but also as a gateway to the Aptos ecosystem. This integration is facilitated by pre-loaded apps like Petra, a top Aptos-compatible wallet, and the Jambo App.

Explore the unique features of the JamboPhone and unlock early bird benefits by using the code ‘JAMBOBITKE‘ at checkout on their website, jambophone.xyz.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/jambo-phone-to-integrate-aptos-network/
🇳🇬 REGULATION | Binance Not Working for Users in Nigeria Amid Allegations of Government Inteference

According to a local report, the government decided to move against Binance and other crypto firms following reports that currency speculators and money launderers were using them to execute criminal activities.

Among the speculations is that the apex bank could use telcos to block access to those websites and apps in Nigeria, while the Central Bank of Nigeria allegedly ordered Binance to set a cap on traders selling USDT.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/allegations-of-nigerian-government-inteference-on-binance/
🇪🇹 BITCOIN | The Ethiopian Sovereign Wealth Fund to Start Mining Bitcoin Under a $250 Million Deal

As recently reported by BitKE, following the filling of its Grand Renaissance Dam, (GERD) the state power monopoly has already struck power supply deals with 21 Bitcoin mining companies, and Ethiopia has already risen to become one of the world’s top recipients of Bitcoin mining machines.

EIH encompasses close to 30 state-owned enterprises and holds flagship enterprises such as Ethiopian Airlines and Ethio Telecom in its portfolio. Its subsidiaries span multiple sectors and employ about a quarter of a million employees.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/ethiopia-sovereign-wealth-fund-to-start-mining-bitcoin/
🇳🇬 INTRODUCING| Nigerian Blockchain Infrastructure Startup, BitPowr, to Expand to Asia After Surpassing $200 Million in Transactions

According to Toby, the Co-Founder of BitPowr, Asian customers have outpaced African customers in terms of their contribution to the company’s achievement of the $200 million transaction milestone.

“ In 2023, we processed over 15 million API calls made by our customers and handled more than 700,000 transactions across multiple blockchains worth over $200m+,” the company has indicated.

“ Currently, we do up to $20 million per month.... We now generate more revenue than we spend. We are cash flow positive.” - Co-Founder, BitPowr

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/introducing-bitpowr/
MILESTONE | Bitcoin Gains 10% in Last 24 Hour to Reach Levels Last Seen in November 2021

The movement follows a day the nine new spot Bitcoin ETFs set a new record for combined daily trading volume, recording $2.4 billion in buying and selling activity

So far, collectively, all spot Bitcoin ETFs had generated nearly $52 billion in cumulative trading volume.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/02/bitcoin-hits-levels-last-seen-in-november-2021/
CoinMarketCap Community.png
571.1 KB
Check out our most popular post for February 2024 on #CoinMarketCap
Community

Follow us and stay updated with the latest news, insights, and updates from #BitKE!

https://coinmarketcap.com/community/share/post/333830773 #CMCCryptoAwards2024 #CMCCommunity
FUNDING | Nigerian 🇳🇬 Debt Collection Startup, BFREE, Raises $3 Million to Scale Operations in Africa

The founders were motivated to create BFREE after observing the negative impacts of aggressive debt collection techniques, including incessant calling and debt-shaming, employed by predatory digital lenders.

The negative practices by lenders are well documented and have seen regulators in countries like Nigeria 🇳🇬 and Kenya 🇰🇪 take stern actions such as requiring mobile loan apps to apply for fresh mandates, or even delisting the apps from Google Play, in the case of Nigeria.

"We can predict how much is a loan that has not been paid back, let’s say for 90 days; how likely is it going to be paid back over the next one year. Then we go to banks and buy these assets and take them off their balance sheets, allowing them to offload the risk,” - CEO, BFREE

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/03/introducing-bfree/
INTRODUCING | #Telegram Introduces Ad Revenue Sharing for Channel Owners via TonCoin Payments Starting in March 2024

The aforementioned 50% of revenue generated from the sale of these advertisements would be distributed to channel owners beginning in March 2024, mirroring the model implemented by X (formerly known as Twitter) on its platform.

This move aligns with Telegram's announcement in 2021, stating its intention to 'share ad revenue with the owners of public channels in which sponsored messages are displayed' after covering the company's basic costs.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/03/telegram-introduces-ad-revenue-sharing-via-toncoin/
🇰🇪 EVENT [MARCH 26, 27 2024] | The Inaugural Kenya Travel Industry Payment Summit to Feature a Crypto Payments Presentation for the Industry

Key objectives of the summit include:

* Providing insights into emerging payment technologies
* Fostering connections between industry stakeholders
* Showcasing cutting-edge payment solutions, and
* Analyzing the regulatory environment affecting travel payments

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents is the national umbrella body for Travel Agents in Kenya, with a growing membership of over 240 Travel Agencies.

It is Kenya’s largest and only membership organization for travel agents.

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/03/announcing-the-inaugural-kenya-travel-industry-payment-summit/
BitGet Announces an Exclusive Easter Crypto Giveaway for Kenyan Users

Join the Easter Crypto Giveaway!

Airdrops like $BGB, $WLD, MEME Coins, and prizes like UNGA, gift cards, airtime, and MPESA credits await.

It's a commitment to Kenya's crypto community. #Bitget #BitGetAfrica

https://bitcoinke.io/2024/03/bitget-kenya-easter-crypto-giveaway/