Education, Human Rights And An Innovation Drain From West To East - Why Africans Are Turning To Bitcoin

The article looks at why bitcoin was gaining ground in Africa, where the average age was 18.8 compared with 42.2 in Europe at the time, and where young people faced high banking charges, weak infrastructure and political interference. Anita Posch, founder of Bitcoin for Fairness, said, “If bitcoin works in Zimbabwe, it works everywhere,” describing the country as an example of bitcoin as a tool for freedom and human rights.

Master Guantai predicted that Africa would lead in bitcoin adoption and innovation, while both he and Posch stressed the need to counter misinformation and scams. Noelyne Sumba, director at Machankura, described its work in countries including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, letting people use bitcoin over the Lightning Network without an internet connection through USSD, a system similar to mobile money services such as M-Pesa. The article also mentions grants from The Geyser Fund for education projects.