Development in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa

[Joohansson]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

[Kakmakr]

I see one of the exchanges that I use for trading, also have a footprint in South Africa and that is a good sign. I have also seen one of their major payment processors, PayFast started to accept
Bitcoin, which opens up a whole bunch of merchants for Bitcoin users in that country. https://www.payfast.co.za/bitcoin/ I travel to that part of the world for my work, but I mostly work on it's
borders, but I will most definitely check it out in the future. ^smile^

[pooya87]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

this links shows how many people are searching a particular term, like bitcoin or blockchain, it doesn't show how many people are using bitcoin or are interested in blockchain.
for example i already know about bitcoin and blockchain so i don't google these terms so the "trends" coming from me is going to be smaller. and when bitcoin is becoming popular in a particular country in the world obviously people start searching about it to know what this new thing they keep hearing about is. so the trend coming from them will grow.

[Joohansson]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

this links shows how many people are searching a particular term, like bitcoin or blockchain, it doesn't show how many people are using bitcoin or are interested in blockchain.
for example i already know about bitcoin and blockchain so i don't google these terms so the "trends" coming from me is going to be smaller. and when bitcoin is becoming popular in a particular country in the world obviously people start searching about it to know what this new thing they keep hearing about is. so the trend coming from them will grow.

That is partly true, but google searches is not only about "looking up news". It's the core library of the Internet how to find stuff, do stuff, learn stuff, development, info, price charts, politics, hardware, software, etc, etc. I know Bitcoin since 2009 but I still do several searches every day for different bitcoin related things. Definitely some trends coming from me as well even if I live in an educated country.

[Nagadota]

Well the appeal for Bitcoin and the blockchain is going to be different in different countries.  It's somewhat popular in Venezuela due to the unstable fiat currency, somewhat popular in Nigeria due to... well... princes...

And so many other countries.  Sometimes it'll be a money making scheme - when you have something global like Bitcoin and the cost of living is really low in your country, you can earn quite a lot more than in your day job sometimes.

[Slow death]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

humm, you are curious about these countries, i am African so i know people from these countries, at least some people from these countries have already come to my country.

Nigeria - I think you should avoid going to that country, even if they accept or use bitcoin.

Ghana - you can go to this country, but always be careful, never trust anyone else in it.

South africa - oh this i recommend, i am a neighbor of south africa and I really like it.

[Xester]

Well the appeal for Bitcoin and the blockchain is going to be different in different countries.  It's somewhat popular in Venezuela due to the unstable fiat currency, somewhat popular in Nigeria due to... well... princes...

And so many other countries.  Sometimes it'll be a money making scheme - when you have something global like Bitcoin and the cost of living is really low in your country, you can earn quite a lot more than in your day job sometimes.

That is a fact. The cost of living in my country is low and with the dollars value and bitcoin both going up my profit from bitcoin is doubled. Comparing my income online and my regular job  there is a huge gap. I am earning more online compared to my regular job. That is thanks to bitcoin and hope people in Africa will also enjoy these kind of benefits and will decrease the citizens who are unable to earn.

[spin]

Quite a lot of activity in SA:

Exchanges: 
https://www.luno.com/
https://ice3x.co.za/
https://localbitcoins.com/instant-bitcoins/?action=buy&country_code=ZA&amount=&currency=ZAR&place_country=ZA&online_provider=ALL_ONLINE&find-offers=Search

Payment processing:
https://www.payfast.co.za/bitcoin/

Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/BitcoinSouthAfrica/

Learning / Conference
http://blockchainacademy.co.za/
http://blockchainafrica.co/

And plenty more.

[BrewMaster]

there have been a lot of activity worldwide about bitcoin so obviously a lot of different countries are showing this much new movement.

but in case of Africa there have been a lot of projects, start ups and things like that where people introduced bitcoin to them and they have been showing a lot of interest too. i never followed up to see where they ended up though.
there are a couple of very interesting links in the comment above by spin

[stompix]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

Again with the African mirage...
Insert 5 year old picture of taxi accepting bitcoin in Kenya...

Let's see, South Africa, average GDP/capita  0.25 btc,Kenya ,0.05,Ghana 0.05.
Maybe if the entire continent empties their piggy bank they might be able to buy one whole bitcoin.

Why should somebody care about 3 countries that don't have the economic power of Virginia alone?

[blacknerd]

africa is a intresting market for bitcoin especially nigeria. im looking at starting a project there if anyone wants to jump onboard

[szpalata]

It's good to know our brothers and sisters in Africa have  decided to use Bitcoin by contributing to the network. I think it will be mutually beneficial to both Bitcoin and Africa.

[Iranus]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

Why should somebody care about 3 countries that don't have the economic power of Virginia alone?

Because:

1.  Not everything is about the price.  Chill.
2.  There's quite a few richer Africans and significant wealth disparity.
3.  In countries with unstable fiat currency, Bitcoin can potentially become very popular resulting in a much bigger flow of money into Bitcoin than you think.  Only a tiny percentage of Americans actually has any money in Bitcoin.
4.  In Western countries it's easier for people to delude themselves into thinking that nothing is wrong.
5. It can be better for earning as you can earn a significant amount online doing some things - in these areas where people have a low GDP per capita, there is also a much lower cost of living, so earning one Bitcoin means a lot more.

[Victorycoin]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

Again with the African mirage...
Insert 5 year old picture of taxi accepting bitcoin in Kenya...

Let's see, South Africa, average GDP/capita  0.25 btc,Kenya ,0.05,Ghana 0.05.
Maybe if the entire continent empties their piggy bank they might be able to buy one whole bitcoin.

Why should somebody care about 3 countries that don't have the economic power of Virginia alone?

What a write off of an entire continent and almost nothing changed from the principle of "partus sequitur ventrem" or indentured servant to slave that was Virginia about 1640. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Virginia

But wake up now, it is 21st century and this is no Jamestown. We are talking here, about Bitcoin - free as air and almost like the sun that shines its light to all.
If for whatever reason many more people from Africa are now looking up "Blockchain and Bitcoin," it simply sign posts a new dawn for Africa, its people and all those interested in doing business in Africa.

[Joohansson]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad?

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

Why should somebody care about 3 countries that don't have the economic power of Virginia alone?

Because:

1.  Not everything is about the price.  Chill.
2.  There's quite a few richer Africans and significant wealth disparity.
3.  In countries with unstable fiat currency, Bitcoin can potentially become very popular resulting in a much bigger flow of money into Bitcoin than you think.  Only a tiny percentage of Americans actually has any money in Bitcoin.
4.  In Western countries it's easier for people to delude themselves into thinking that nothing is wrong.
5. It can be better for earning as you can earn a significant amount online doing some things - in these areas where people have a low GDP per capita, there is also a much lower cost of living, so earning one Bitcoin means a lot more.

Thanks, good to hear some people here understands the whole picture! Perhaps because of comments like the first one we hear very little news about Africa. Bitcoin is a global phenomenon, maybe start to actually "care" globally.

[davis196]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

African countries are becoming the "new China" for bitcoin and this is good for us.
They won`t try to control and manipulate the btc market like the Chinese govenment and central bank.
They have huge economic and social potential.

[stompix]

Can someone explain what is happening in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa etc, good or bad? I never read or hear anything about those countries. A quick look at "blockchain" or "bitcoin" at google analytics reveals an interesting list. I always thought that United States was the forefront but it's only place 34 on that list, below whole Scandinavia an many others. Maybe internet search interest is not equivalent as actual development but still interesting.

https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=blockchain

Why should somebody care about 3 countries that don't have the economic power of Virginia alone?

Because:

1.  Not everything is about the price.  Chill.
2.  There's quite a few richer Africans and significant wealth disparity.
3.  In countries with unstable fiat currency, Bitcoin can potentially become very popular resulting in a much bigger flow of money into Bitcoin than you think.  Only a tiny percentage of Americans actually has any money in Bitcoin.
4.  In Western countries it's easier for people to delude themselves into thinking that nothing is wrong.
5. It can be better for earning as you can earn a significant amount online doing some things - in these areas where people have a low GDP per capita, there is also a much lower cost of living, so earning one Bitcoin means a lot more.

1. Irrelevant and I wasn't talking about price either.
2. Yeah , about 1000 less than europeans and americans
3. That tiny american population is still 1000 bigger than the african counterpart
4. Irrelevant
5. Total mess and lack of basic economics knowledge

6 Meanwhile , in the real world:


[/quote]
What a write off of an entire continent and almost nothing changed from the principle of "partus sequitur ventrem" or indentured servant to slave that was Virginia about 1640.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_Virginia

But wake up now, it is 21st century and this is no Jamestown. We are talking here, about Bitcoin - free as air and almost like the sun that shines its light to all.
If for whatever reason many more people from Africa are now looking up "Blockchain and Bitcoin," it simply sign posts a new dawn for Africa, its people and all those interested in doing business in Africa.
[/quote]

I heard that about the new dawn of Africa since I was a kid.. and the dawn became more of a sunset.
Let's replace Virginia with the Netherlands.
17 million people with more money to spend on bitcoin than half of Africa.

[Victorycoin]

As with anything in life, there is always a starting point and it does not really matter how much you fail as far as you refuse to give up or give in. There are no guarantees that the ones currently leading in this race of life would remain tops or emerge winners at the end of the day. Bitcoin is a nouveau technology that can be embraced without necessarily reinventing the wheel and the best part is that it is not for the governments to decide or dictate its pace. I see the above map as temporal as we all know change is the only thing that stays permanent.