Africa

Startups

Meet the Kenyan Startup Trying to Change Bill Gates’ Mind on Bitcoin

Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded bitcoin startup Bitsoko $100,000 to help troubleshoot Africa's mobile money systems.

Business  ·  23 July 2015
Exchanges

BitX Launches Bitcoin Services in Nigeria

Emerging markets-focused bitcoin services provider BitX has launched services in Nigeria.

Business  ·  7 July 2015
Africa

Ben Parker: Bitcoin Has Potential in Fragile States

Ben Parker, co-founder of IRIN, a humanitarian news service spoke to CoinDesk about bitcoin's potential in fragile states.

Markets  ·  20 June 2015
Regulation

Why Bitcoin Regulation Lags Where it’s Needed Most

Africa has significant market potential for bitcoin companies, but its challenging regulatory environment is deterring development.

Policy & regulation  ·  8 March 2015
Africa

Bitcoin in the Headlines: Bad News Fatigue

CoinDesk examines this week's bitcoin headlines, paying special attention to the media's longform features.

Markets  ·  22 February 2015
Venture Capital

Pantera Leads $1.1 Million Funding for African Bitcoin Startup BitPesa

Kenya-based bitcoin services provider BitPesa has raised $1.1m in funding led by Pantera Capital and including Bitcoin Opportunity Corp.

Business  ·  9 February 2015
Exchanges

ICE3x Launches Nigeria’s First Bitcoin Exchange

ICE3X has launched Nigeria's first bitcoin exchange, opening up a potentially huge market for the digital currency in Africa's most populous country.

Business  ·  7 January 2015
Exchanges

Bitcoin Exchange Igot Expands to Over 40 Countries

Australia-based exchange igot is opening up its services to over 40 countries, including all of the EU and parts of the Middle East and Africa.

Business  ·  4 December 2014
Exchanges

BitX Creates ‘Sexy’ Mobile Apps to Draw New Bitcoin Users

BitX has released mobile apps for iOS and Android, aiming to attract newcomers with an attractive and user-friendly design.

Business  ·  21 November 2014
Africa

Beam Launches Cheap ‘Rebittance’ Solution for Ghana

Ghana-based startup Beam plans to disrupt the local remittance market using the low cost, speed and convenience of bitcoin.

Markets  ·  16 October 2014
Africa

Sierra Leone Group Continues Bitcoin Drive to Fight Ebola

The Sierra Leone Liberty Group has used bitcoin donations to combt Ebola, but says the fight is not over.

Markets  ·  12 October 2014
South Africa

Bitcoin Voucher Startups Aim to Help Africa’s Unbanked

British bitcoin service Azteco and South African start-up Xoin have separately launched two services designed for emerging markets.

Business  ·  7 September 2014
Health

Sierra Leone Group Diverts Bitcoin Campaign to Fight Ebola

A bitcoin advocacy group in Sierra Leone is switching its focus to a more urgent problem: the Ebola virus.

Markets  ·  26 August 2014
Exchanges

BlinkTrade Opens New Bitcoin Markets in Venezuela, West Africa

BlinkTrade launched bitcoin exchange SurBitcoin in Venezuela last week, and today will unveil its West African venture, UbuntuBitX.

Business  ·  19 August 2014
Exchanges

BitX to Expand Further in Emerging Markets with New Funding Deal

Emerging market-focused bitcoin exchange BitX has raised S$1m as part of its latest seed funding round.

Business  ·  19 August 2014