What is happening in Africa? And what can we make happen?

[fathur.aza]

companies in Africa there must be rules that can be exchanged into local currency BTC in order to help them all.

[Kprawn]

I think what people in Africa needs, is Bitcoin education. Someone should go there and train a few people and then send them out to teach other.

Most people there do not have access to the same kind of internet infrastructure that we have in the first world countries, so Bitcoin adoption will

have to run on cell phones with expensive data packages. { Dependent on Cell phone providers }  .... Find a way for Bitcoin to run on the most

basic "non-smart phone" and older phones and you will have a winner. 

[franky1]

I think what people in Africa needs, is Bitcoin education. Someone should go there and train a few people and then send them out to teach other.

Most people there do not have access to the same kind of internet infrastructure that we have in the first world countries, so Bitcoin adoption will

have to run on cell phones with expensive data packages. { Dependent on Cell phone providers }  .... Find a way for Bitcoin to run on the most

basic "non-smart phone" and older phones and you will have a winner.  

1. theres HUNDREDS of lite wallet
2. many people have gone to africa. and it doesnt take much to teach them how to use it

3. the problem is not the tech. or teaching how to use.. its the COST of tx's that is holding bitcoin back in developing countries.
yep the solutions are third party services like xapo. or using LN hubs. but then your removing all the elements of bitcoins uniqueness by making people reliant on counterparties (LN) or third parties (web app providers)

[RodeoX]

Wow guys, I’m flattered by all your kind words. I am just paying forward the help and guidance I received as a newbie. I think bitcoin can do a lot of good in the world simply by leveling the table for the poor, the un-banked and victims of oppressive monetary policy.  For me it’s not about handing out free cookies, but developing a system that keeps anyone from eating anyone else's cookie. 

Your insights are very helpful. I know little about M-Pesa and the other payment options in Africa. So I really need the information you are providing if I am going to talk to people about bitcoin.  I also agree with what all of you are saying, including the criticisms. This will not be easy, especially since I plan are targeting a place hostile to bitcoin rather than a place like Kenya that is embracing it. But I like to fight, lol.

My hope is to respectfully introduce people to the benefits of bitcoin and not come across as some white American here to save Africa. Africa is actually a happening place with lots of smart people doing innovative things.  It seems quite possible that in the future Africa could be teaching the rest of the world how to implement bitcoin.

[Victorycoin]

In all North Africa countries, remittance is big business. The problem being that in Paris or Brussels, it's easy to buy BTC, but in Algiers or Tunis, it's difficult to exchange BTC into local currencies. Someone should create an exchange there to help.

This was what MadGamer had to say about remittance in North Africa and it doesn't seem to agree with yours? 

If there are some countries that you should set as a target then those will be Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, not because they are one of the richest but because they are more opened to this stuff I believe. Bitwala.io made a interesting article a few days ago on how bitcoin became popular in North Africa.

Perhaps a case need to be made for Algeria and Tunis to be carried along by Bitwala - dont know about this company! Same way I have been using Bitpesa for almost a year and it is even a Kenyan company, but doing business across 4 African countries including Nigeria. I easily convert BTC to Naira or the reverse, using their services, though their fees can be a source for concern.

[squatz1]

crptocurrency  is moving in Africa but still at a low adoption rate . However there are quite some developer in Southafrica and North African countries . Some ponzi scheme are adopting it whereas widening the use. Humaniq makes a target of the poorer community in the continent but development will take time except the target  is for the right people, the elite adopting the tech and internet use

Personally I don't think that Bitcoin will be able to makeway in these countries when they can't even make way in countries that are fully technologically advanced like the United States, Canada, all of Western Europe and so on. I know some people point to the fact that in Africa people would be using Bitcoin as a way to hide money from the corruput government but what's the bitcoin going to do for them if they're unable to cash it out across Africa?

I guess using Bitcoin is cheaper than using a money transferring / wire service like western union or one of those types of things but I can't see it taking way like one of those huge monopoly like companies.

Plus, I doubt the corrupt governments are going to allow Bitcoint to thrive and we all know that's the deciding factor when it comes to IF bitcoin can take way in a country. Probably going to see tons of regulations by the government.

[cafucafucafu]

Last year I focused on developing the bitcoin economy in Iceland, a country that is not friendly to bitcoin but could gain a lot from it's adoption. This year I am looking toward Africa. Last month's blockchain Africa conference in Johannesburg demonstrated a growing interest in bitcoin for the un-banked to do remittance and in person exchanges.

I have not done much in Africa yet. I donate a bit to http://medicmobile.org/ .  They develop medical apps for disease surveillance in Africa an other places. But I am considering going to Africa and meeting with business and government decision makers.  I think I can make the case for bitcoin among everyday Africans. For example, many poor Africans already use a form of digital currency. They trade phone minutes for goods when shopping. 

What I could use help with is selecting a country and choosing who to meet with. If any of you are in Africa and/or have contacts in government/business, I would love to hear your thoughts and back your efforts to popularize bitcoin. I also plan on hiding another bitcoin geo-cache somewhere in Africa and maybe even hosting some kind of event.

Please let me hear your ideas and observations on the topic of bitcoin's future in Africa.

 

I believe that bitcoin has a big future in developing countries.

When countries have an economic problem, which is especially prone in underdevolped and developing countries, they seek alternatives. Nobody in the US is seeking alternatives because they have the comfort of having a stable currency, even though we know it'll burst anytime.

Just look at Venezuela, when the economy crashes, everyone races to BTC.

I believe that it's going to be something similar in Africa. Help the unbanked get a bank account in bitcoin.

[Victorycoin]

Personally I don't think that Bitcoin will be able to makeway in these countries when they can't even make way in countries that are fully technologically advanced like the United States, Canada, all of Western Europe and so on.

Bitcoin is making no headway???  Which Bitcoin are you talking about, is it the one whose price increased by over 100% within 365 days, the one that was worth few cents couple of years back, but now worth almost $1300, current market capitalization at $20,639,890,722? Looks to me like you will be needing more help than does many from the so called backward continent!

I know some people point to the fact that in Africa people would be using Bitcoin as a way to hide money from the corruput government but what's the bitcoin going to do for them if they're unable to cash it out across Africa?

Whereas Bitcoin technology makes it possible for you to send and receive Bitcoins without disclosing your identity, it is however far from giving perfect anonymity. Bitcoin at best is only pseudonymous and those high net worth wallets do ring bells and can be traced. Btw I can furnish you with as many local exchanges and ways to cash your Bitcoin from even a village in Nigeria.

I guess using Bitcoin is cheaper than using a money transferring/wire service like western union or one of those types of things but I can't see it taking way like one of those huge monopoly like companies.

Those monopolies are one of the problems people are facing and which is precisely one of the issues Bitcoin have risen to resolve. We now have startup remittance companies that are giving those so called huge companies a fight for every client out there and they are doing quite well.

Plus, I doubt the corrupt governments are going to allow Bitcoin to thrive and we all know that's the deciding factor when it comes to IF bitcoin can take way in a country. Probably going to see tons of regulations by the government.

Once again, you drifted there! Bitcoin is decentralized and borderless, the governments that experimented with banning it, ended up learning some bitter lessons - China, Russia, India in case you need an instance! The conclusion of the matter is, Bitcoin goes on with or without the government!

[staff_1307]

Yes, you are moving in the right direction, it is in Africa that now you need to help in the knowledge of Bitcoin.

[RodeoX]

Ok. I have tickets and I'll be in Africa for the new year to start the next geo-cache game. I will start a new thread in the games section when that time comes.
Now I just need to find someone to rent me proper wheels for bitcoin.