Bitcoin Forum

LocalBitcoins.com is sponsoring a motorcycle trip throughout Africa. The idea is to find an willing exchanger (Bitcoins -> Cash) from each country/city during the trip and blog about the experience. Therefore we are in an urgent need of exchangers, who would like to exchange bitcoins to cash in each country.

We need local contacts in the following African countries for an extremely interesting upcoming adventure. If you know anybody in these countries/cities, or if you are in them, please get in touch with us asap:

Morocco
 -Casablanca
 -Marrakech

Western Sahara

Mauritania
  -Nouakchott

Senegal
 -Dakar

Mali  
 - Bamako

Burkina faso
 -Ouagadougou

Togo
 -Lomé

Benin
 -Cotonou

Cameroon
 -Douala

Nigeria
 -Abuja

 Republic of Congo
 -Brazzaville

Democratic Republic of Congo
 -Kinshasha

Angola
 -Luanda

Namibia
 -Windhoek

Bostwana
 -Gaborone

South Africa
-Cape Town

To contact the motorcycler (Borja) directly to set up an exchange: borjaserra@hotmail.com
To set up an exchange advertisement: https://localbitcoins.com/advertise/
If you have any problems setting up an ad for your local place, msg me here.

That's some trip!
From Tangier to Cape Town in a motorbike... over 8.000 Km

http://www.mapsofworld.com/africa/maps/africa-map.gif

Morocco:
https://localbitcoins.com/sell-bitcoins-with-cash/1079982166/tangier-tetouan-morocco/

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pS1QV5LgM5Q/UlPjRaRLZPI/AAAAAAAAAmE/9bSdV9WydOE/s1600/Morocco+BTC.JPG

Sounds like a brilliant way to spread bitcoin usage and great fun too, good luck!

Great!

Is any place open to join the journey? :P
I was living 2 years in Africa and I speak a little arabic.

By the way I can offer bitcoin exchange in Tanger, Casablanca, Marrakech and Meknes. I can also offer bitcoin exchange via Wafacash (Local Western Union) in all Morocco.

This might help.

Africa's top tweeters:

South Africa:             @mgigaba
Mali:                        @DrOumarMARIKO  @PresidenceMali
Ghana:                     @pkNdoum  @JDMahama
Nigeria:                     @elrufai   @NOIweala
Senegal:                   @macky_sall    @Cheikhlatif
Togo:                       @FGNASSINGBE   @JeanPierreFabre  @GerryTaama
Burkina Faso:             @compaore_blaise   @Me_GNO
Benin:                       @DrBoniYAYI

So Borja will be carrying the local currency in each country?  Or US dollars?  Or ???

Also, a couple of related links:

 - http://www.atmmarketplace.com/article/185296/India-uses-human-ATMs-to-reach-unbanked-population

 - http://blog.tinkercoin.com/2013/07/bitcoins-by-motorcycle  <-- Bitcoin exchange on wheels

Stephen, my understanding is that Borja will carry BTC and exchange them for local currency in each country, using https://localbitcoins.com/. I guess it should be easier to find people who want some bitcoins in Africa than people who have them...

Western Sahara:

try contacting this hotel-
http://www.hotel-nagjir.com/contact.html

Nagjir Ville
Adresse : Place Résistance Làayoune.
Tél : +212 528 89 41 68/69
Fax : +212 528 99 09 82
Email : hotelna@hotel-nagjir.com
P.GPS : Altitude -27°9'0.40"N
            Longtitude -13°11'55.64W

Ah, so it looks like the OP could use an edit?

[emphasis mine]

Nice! Do they start from Madrid?

They start from Barcelona. They are leaving today I think.

Bitcoin is slowly creeping south...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-naZQpV9EHmA/Uley02SJt_I/AAAAAAAAAmg/dAusLdmyIbo/s400/Bitcoin+Africa+2.JPG
https://localbitcoins.com/buy-bitcoins-with-cash/1167203313/laayoune-western-sahara/
.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gkZAljfrC-M/UlfLhuV4aLI/AAAAAAAAAmw/vMUVjLc9ZhI/s400/Bitcoin+Africa+3.JPG
https://localbitcoins.com/buy-bitcoins-with-cash/859645098/accra-ghana/
.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooe1IMeytXo/UlfLiqOn5TI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Von88ZF8foE/s400/Bitcoin+Africa+4.JPG
https://localbitcoins.com/buy-bitcoins-with-cash/627145/luanda-angola/

LocalBitcoin’s Motorcycle Trek Through Africa

http://bitcoinmagazine.com/7444/localbitcoins-motorcycle-trek-through-africa/

@BitcoinBash @BitcoinMagazine

I just had news that #BitcoinAfrica pilot @borjaserra completed his first exchange in Morocco.
So that's one country we can cross off the list!  He exchanged 1 BTC for 1100 MAD (Moroccan Dirham).


The next two countries (Western Sahara and Mauritania) will be much more difficult.

 So if you read this and have any local contacts, please get in touch!


We have a few days before he gets there to find somebody willing to buy BTC with local currency. If you have any ideas, friends, contacts... send Borja an e-mail or tweet at him. Even better, just tell your local friends to click on his ads at localbitcoins:
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/BORGA1982/buy-bitcoins-with-cash/

Morocco was easy one. My friend changed money for him :)

Hmm you should do a round the world in 80 days type gig next :D
Also whats the exchange rate like in Africa?

Well.. all we need then is somebody in the forums with a friend in each country.  ;D

LocalBitcoin’s Motorcycle Trek Through Africa: Southbound through Morocco
http://bitcoinmagazine.com/7477/localbitcoins-motorcycle-trek-through-africa-southbound-through-morocco/


https://blockchain.info/es/address/1CREMhSUmM6SJgntg34FX7mGe6V6PzccQk



Next: Western Sahara.

Our bikers expect to stop at Tarfaya-Bourjdour-Dakhla.

Anybody there with a mobile phone and an Internet connection can be an exchanger. Or just a wifi-enabled mobile will do.

Looks like we have quite a few budding african bitcoiners. So far #BitcoinAfrica been in contact with the following users:

https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/oomkallie/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/baddycox/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/edisoncoin/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/remmy/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/clevernut/

We've also identified some more African exchangers:
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/mawueli/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/danny323/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/chrisbtc/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/SlimSlyde/

Clearly South Africa has the highest concentration of BTC, but it is spreading to other countries.

Of course @borjaserra is driving through quite quickly and might not be able to close cash deals with all of them, but that doesn't stop other bitcoiners from being in touch and helping out these #BitcoinAfrica pioneers!

Remember that Localbitcoins also allows you to carry out online Bitcoin exchanges.

@borjaserra is doing a great work spreading the word of bitcoin in Africa :)

Bitcoin in Africa
http://micadeyeye.ngportal.com/index.php/2013/09/21/doing-bitcoin-business-in-your-neighbourhood-bitcoinafrica/

#BitcoinAfrica reaches Senegal

LocalBitcoin’s Motorcycle Trek Through Africa: Mauritania to Senegal
http://bitcoinmagazine.com/7647/localbitcoins-motorcycle-trek-through-africa-mauritania-to-senegal/

Bitcoins Exchanged succesfully in Mali #BitcoinAfrica
http://localbitcoins.blogspot.fi/2013/10/bitcoins-exchanged-succesfully-in-mali.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDa7l2bXx50/UnIpz8EPjMI/AAAAAAAABVc/fYy1aFX7Wgk/s640/bitcoinafrica.jpg

The list of African localbitcoiners keeps growing:


https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/oomkallie/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/baddycox/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/edisoncoin/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/remmy/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/clevernut/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/mawueli/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/danny323/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/chrisbtc/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/SlimSlyde/

https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/Curjime/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/ginosko/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/joDuwwel/
https://localbitcoins.com/accounts/profile/Mint/

Contact them for online exchanges and help kickstart the Bitcoin revolution in Africa!

Come back in a few months and see how their reputation and number of transactions has grown...

Bitcoin Revolution Spreads to Togo! #BitcoinAfrica
http://localbitcoins.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/bitcoin-revolution-spreads-to-togo.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qDSpB17Zbxg/UnzeDdG8nSI/AAAAAAAABXw/7joIHQjEYYU/s640/tip_for_the_trip.jpg


#BitcoinAfrica @borjaserra is now in Nigeria

http://ow.ly/i/3GLsa/original

Check out this new Facebook group!
Togo Bitcoin Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/453738311414492/

bloody awesome!!! Can't believe how corrupt the borders are down there. Ugh.

#BitcoinAfrica will soon be in Cameroon. Anybody in Yaounde or Douala wants bitcoins?  Contact @borjaserra
https://localbitcoins.com/buy-bitcoins-with-cash/1167198590/douala-cameroon/

Africa remains very underepresented in this map:
http://coinmap.org/

http://bitcoinmagazine.com/8883/localbitcoins-motorcycle-trek-through-africa-benin-to-angola/

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/S27YMmD2rpDojscCEItzdHgOhyGldbeCHga283Mu_KZK719H422ltIvVbMVyLXlP3PK-4weVEv59p01L5pva_32ryix47GrrHwN9wjHlIAjXdJlny-umwAeVPw


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/VC4bPjeCm-tCWxXeaquZcFrG3q6SoH4YQ09Vo8xO65RqK4BZTin30QHVjtxa5Amu8K1-b0WILkH01P6VhsSbUdHi3DYOeI-A5PfUZwBAAJgI7_Tatsg4BEbf6A

As far as I'm concerned, getting 5 Bitcoin exchanges in Africa, with their time and tech constraints, is a huge win!

Hopefully they should not have many problems getting their 6th in South Africa.

If they could make a small detour into Zimbabwe that would also be awesome, given their recent monetary troubles... although that is probably too much to hope for, given the distances involved. But it would definitely make the headlines!

Remember this?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Zimbabwe_$100_trillion_2009_Obverse.jpg/1024px-Zimbabwe_$100_trillion_2009_Obverse.jpg

From where they are a detour to Zim is a couple of 1000kms.

They should have not problems in SA to do exchanges.

localbitcoins.com is quite active here.
Also an online exchange at www.bitx.co.za.

#BitcoinAfrica proceeds to Namibia!

http://localbitcoins.blogspot.fi/2013/12/bitcoinafrica-proceeds-to-namibia.html

This is really an excellent response!
You guys are doing a wonderful job!

Cape Town!

https://scontent-a-mad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1521422_10151854774976027_1518590533_n.jpg

http://www.coindesk.com/best-real-world-bitcoin-merchant-pioneers-this-year/
The Best Real-World Bitcoin Merchant Pioneers of This Year
December 29, 2013

Wow great guys:  

That's the most southern point of greater Cape Town -> http://goo.gl/ucFHli (google maps)

The most sourther tip of Africa is a couple of hours drive away -> http://goo.gl/Sgf1QF

Congrats!  :D

http://localbitcoins.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/bitcoinafrica-tour-completed-at-south.html

Africa’s largest bank


http://www.coindesk.com/africas-largest-bank-trials-bitcoin-integration-system/

Sure, but:

Bitcoin Botswana
http://youtu.be/Iottcg7Gn0s

What's the risk Borja will run into someone who will want his cash ... but at the same time that person doesn't have plans to exchange bitcoins to get it from him?

Check on the coinmap, there are a few places around cape town that accepts BTC as payment  :) There is a some coffee shop in observatory  ;)

Well, there were two of them traveling together.  That makes things a little safer.

Also, if you read the OP:


So they were only selling bitcoins, in exchange for cash.  And since nearly each country had its own fiat, there was no point in holding lots of cash -- and thus risk was muted a little from that as well.

If I remember correctly, they had more concerns about their cash going to "checkpoint guards" than to thieves [edit: who don't work for the government] .

Looks like Bitcoin is spreading in Africa... there are now 2 Bitcoin remittance startups:
https://www.bitpesa.co/   in Kenya and https://vip.beamremit.com/ in Ghana and Nigeria.

Bitcoin is way more useful for Africans than Occidentals.
Africa doesn't have access to the banking system and all those services because bankers despise Africans.

Maybe, but for Bitcoin to be succesful in many parts of Africa it will have to be able to operate on USSD/sms level mobile phones.  I would imagine this would be centralised wallets operated by a mobile service operator or similar.  This is how mpesa operates.  I.e. some centralisaiton in providing it to individuals will occur.  The limiting factors are feature phones (not smart phones) and limited access to mobile data (cost to the individual and infrastructure).  If I were a mobile operator I can convert people to my own currency (e.g. mpesa) or to bitcoin.  Of course I would do my own as I can capture people to my network  whereas if I launch bitcoin it does not hook people to my network.


Firstly there are banks accross africa.  Owned by Africans even so you are obviously making stuff up.  See Standard Bank quoted earlier in this thread or Equity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equity_Bank).  In fact some of our best banks offer better and more innovative services than in Europe or Asia at least.  I am based in Africa but have lived in Asia and Europe and have had bank accounts in all three.

Of course the poor (who limited money), or the rural people (who are difficult to reach) are difficult to service using traditional banking.  However we've seen the growth of non-traditional banking (micro lending etc.) and other models.  We also see mobile tech playing a role.  Banks have a role to play too, but they are switching to other technologies to assist.  Read up on Equity for example.


That's just a stupid comment.

He would also be VERY successfull if he used MPESA {It's very widespread and based on the Bitcoin protocol}

I think one of the biggest banks down there are backed by Barcley Bank. {Spelling might be wrong}

I have Skype friends living there, and they say ABSA is the biggest bank.

Just google those, and you will find loads of links.

South Africa hosted a FIFA soccer World Cup a few years ago, and I watched that, and they looked like a first world country.  ;D   

Mpesa launched in 2007 pre-dating bitcoin.

Barclays bought ABSA in 2013.  ABSA is the biggest in South Africa (even before Barclays bought it)


South Africa is a weird mix of 1st and 3rd.  

I was talking about bank card payment system : VISA, American Express & MasterCard.

I have one of each in my pocket right now. They are available here and elsewhere in Africa.
When I've travelled through other countries in Africa I've used them as well.  In order of usability I'd rank them
1. Visa
2. MC
...
100. Amex

You have a bit of point there: Mainly in the less developed countries/ rural areas you are using them in towns to draw cash which you'll spend.  Most "shops"/places (other than big hotels or similar) don't directly accept the cards.  Travelling through Mozambique I did run out of cash at some point because I was on an island with a broken ATM. I remember speaking to an owner of a lodge there and he mentioned that he applied for a credit card machine from his bank .  That was 2 years previously and he was still waiting.  Had to pay him by paypal...  Bitcoin would have helped there, but that was a 1st world problem, paying for your holiday accomodation.  Would it have helped the unbanked locals in the town? Maybe, but probably not without some centralisation of wallets perhaps via an mobile operator.  Or if they had really cheap reliable data on their mobiles (which they don't).

Also the tech will have to simplified a lot.  All the addresses etc would need to be hidden away, and the apps made very simple.  Many of the people haven't even started high school so it needs to be simple and straightforward.

Safaricom is partly owned by the government (Kenya).  I would bet hell would freeze over before Safaricom would give  a Bitcoin wallet provider access to their local USSD gateways (which are required for secure communication of mobile-originated requests.)

Right now most new phones sold are smartphones.   This still means only a small segment of the population ... (like less than 20%) has a smartphone today but that's not as huge a hurdle as it may seem.  Families and neighbors are used to sharing resources.  Those that don't have a feature phone even yet today might have their own SIM card though.  With this SIM card one can borrow a phone to use M-Pesa, for example.   With an inexpensive hardware 2FA device a person without a smartphone can safely borrow someone else's smartphone to make a Bitcoin transaction.  Even paper-based wallet using BIP-38 might be useful with a borrowed phone (one that is provided by the merchant even), presuming the password is single-use (i.e., spend all funds in that wallet and the wallet is not re-used).