Bitcoin Trading Flourishes on Whatsapp Following African Exchange Closures

Governments in Africa simply cannot stop an idea whose time has come. In Zimbabwe, financial regulators banned cryptocurrency trading, and shut down two exchanges, thinking to have killed the ecosystem, only for Bitcoin to find a new life on Whatsapp. Kenyan authorities have sounded tough on virtual currency, warning banks and individuals against trading such, … Read more

South African Startup Centbee Launches Bitcoin Cash Payments App

Centbee of South Africa has announced the launch of its bitcoin cash wallet app in beta, as adoption continues to grow in Africa and elsewhere around the world. Some shops in Kenya already accept bitcoin cash for purchases. Also read: BCH Roundup: Merchant Adoption, Wallet Services And Hackathon. Centbee Wallet App Allows Users to Send Bitcoin … Read more

Wave of Mobile Tax Hikes Squeezes Africa’s Poor to Indulge Governments

A smart robber fleeces you with a pen and a handshake. From Zimbabwe to Kenya, Uganda to Benin, African governments are on a tax-raising spree, looking for easy money, ostensibly to help fund successive revenue shortfalls and budget deficits. Often, the money ends up being misappropriated by corrupt public officials. The best weapon in government … Read more

Pesamill Africa Launches as Kenya’s Latest Exchange Offering P2P And Centralized Trading

Pesamill Africa started trading today in one of Africa’s most active bitcoin markets. The exchange will compete with the likes of Bitpesa, and market itself to more than 48 million Kenyans, promising to help them buy and sell cryptocurrency peer-to-peer or through a centralized exchange with an order book. Also read: European Banks Complicit as Corrupt … Read more

Pushing the Boundaries of Economic Change: Bitcoin as a Medium of Exchange in Africa

Bitcoin is pushing the boundaries of economic change in Africa. In East Africa, a new deal between digital currency exchange Bitpesa and a Japanese firm shows Kenyans are using bitcoin to pay for used Japanese cars, cosmetics and electrical gadgets. In Nigeria, Sure Remit is helping make cash transfers cheaper and in Zimbabwe, TV subscriptions, … Read more

Poor Internet Access Could Slow Down Cryptocurrency Growth In Africa

Africa is often lauded as the next big thing for cryptocurrency adoption and development. But could poor internet access and connectivity slow down progress? A new report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) shows that it will cost $450 billion to connect 1.5 billion people – most of them in Africa – to the internet. … Read more

Africa and its Antiquated Banking: Cryptocurrencies The Solution?

Africa has steadily accelerated the switch to modern technologies. But can a continent facing a crisis with antiquated banking technologies, low rate of financial inclusion, poor confidence in the banking system, and high remittance costs become the new battleground for blockchain or cryptocurrency-centred settlements? Also read: Square’s Big Week: Crypto Patent, Shares Leap, and Lightning … Read more

Kenya Has Two Weeks to Decide Whether to Regulate Cryptocurrencies

Kenya’s Treasury Secretary has been tasked with the responsibility of investigating the current state of cryptocurrency adoption in the country, which has so far been growing with no regulations. In a couple of weeks, he is to give his report to parliament, advising them how to proceed with regulating cryptocurrencies. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance … Read more

The Daily: Study Links Social Media Posts to Bitcoin Prices, New BATMs Pop Up Around the World

Quite naturally, social media comments exert influence over cryptocurrency prices but according to a new study, the vocal minority of frequent posters do not have the most influential voices. You’ll find the details in today’s edition of Bitcoin in Brief. Also, a new coin will be airdropped to football fans and players at the World … Read more