#25: Crypto trading exchanges (African WealthTech Pt 3) - How cryptocurrency platforms are providing decentralized financial services across Africa

Overview: Today we’re going to discuss cryptocurrency trading in Africa. We start with the global context of cryptocurrency, review crypto trading exchanges in Africa & end with our overall outlook. This episode was recorded on Mar 21, 2021.

Companies discussed: Coinbase, BitPesa, Xend, BuyCoins, eToro, Luno, Paxful, Quidax & Coinmama

Business concepts discussed: Asset allocation strategy, decentralized networks, cryptocurrency innovation, Fintech customer acquisition strategy, investment regulation & open-source decentralization

Conversation highlights:

• (01:30) - Why we’re talking about Cryptocurrency in Africa
• (03:20) - Background and context: Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin and Altcoins
• (12:20) - Potential downsides of cryptocurrencies; Stablecoins background
• (22:40) - Rise of cryptocurrency in Africa
• (28:52) - Use cases for cryptocurrency in Africa
• (36:15) - Africa’s regulatory environment for cryptocurrency
• (40:30) - Crypto startups in West Africa
• (49:36) - Crypto startups in Southern Africa
• (55:20) - Crypto startups in East Africa
• (59:59) - Crypto startups in North Africa
• (1:07:44) - Bankole's overall outlook
• (1:18:03) - Olumide’s overall outlook
• (1:27:50) - Recommendations and small wins
  

Olumide’s recommendations, small wins & open questions:

• Recommendation: Sam Altman's Stanford course: "How to Start a Startup": 20 videos about startup life from 2014. Fabulous.
• Small win: Getting into the routine of chatting with friends on video call weekends. A lot of fun
• Other content: ARK Invest Bitcoin white paper Part 2 (from 2020-Sep) & Stablecoins explanation (by 99Bitcoins)
• Open question: How should African govt regulate cryptocurrency trading?
  

Bankole’s recommendations, small wins & open questions:

• Recommendations: Why Ghana will no longer sell cocoa to Switzerland - Face2Face Africa & Okay by Adekunle Gold - YouTube
• Small win: Chelsea FC - unbeaten in 14, only conceded 2 goals.
• Other content: Why Crypto is coming out of the shadows - Morgan Stanley & Africa crypto landscape - StartupList Africa
• Open question: How can cryptocurrency drive financial inclusion?
  

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