Bitcoin Events is excited to be hosting the definitive African blockchain and cryptocurrency event, the Blockchain Africa Conference, on March 17 and 18, 2022. 

This year marks the annual conference’s eighth iteration and second virtual edition, and will be featuring some of the most influential cryptocurrency and blockchain industry figures. These acclaimed experts will assemble at the prestigious event to analyze and debate pressing topics pertinent to this fast-growing industry.

The conference will be focusing on the opportunities and use cases that blockchain technology presents to both the African continent and globally. Over the years, the conference themes have evolved and aligned with global adoption of blockchain technology: “Moving Africa Forward,” “Beyond the Hype,” “From Hype to Mainstream” and now, “Ready for Business?”

This year’s event comes alongside growing adoption of, and positive sentiment toward, blockchain. Many private and public organizations are implementing the technology and leveraging it to develop robust, enterprise-ready solutions. The industry has matured, and as a result, it is less susceptible to hype and speculation. 2021 was the year of institutional interest and global adoption, and 2022 is perfectly poised to build off 2021’s momentum and continue this trend. 

Several talks at the conference will explore the rising demand for cryptocurrencies and other blockchain-enabled products in Africa. A young population, high mobile-service penetration and well-established infrastructure are the main drivers contributing to the continent’s accelerating adoption of blockchain and digital currencies. 

The conference will unpack some of the industry’s challenges, particularly regarding regulation. South African Reserve Bank’s senior fintech specialist Herco Steyn will present a regulatory update within the context of South Africa, including central-bank specific topics and initiatives by both SARB and the Bank of International Settlements. 

The event will bring together over 2000 attendees from more than 50 countries, 45 speakers, 25 keynote sessions, presentations, panels, exhibitions, prizes, giveaways and networking sessions hosted by selected industry leaders. The conference promises to be a packed two days of innovative discussions and networking, bringing together a wide network of professionals, entrepreneurs, regulators, major industry executives and investors. 

The impressive list of speakers include: 

Edward Obasi — chief operating officer at DafriGroup

Ian Putter — head blockchain COE and innovation as a service at Standard Bank

Herco Steyn — senior fintech specialist at South African Reserve Bank

Ernest Mbenkum — founder and CEO of Interstellar and Bantu Blockchain

Uche Elendu — CEO of Appzone

Elizabeth Rossiello — CEO and founder of AZA Finance

Norbert Amankwaa Adomako — chief of communications at Metis

Chris Light — CEO at E-Livestock Global

Lohan Spies — chair of Sovrin Steward Council and the board of trustees at Sovrin Foundation

Emmanuel Babalola — Africa director at Binance and interim CEO of Bundle

Chris Cleverly — president of Tingo International Holdings 

Siddharth Singhal — director of enterprise at Parity Technologies

Anil Hansjee — general partner at Fabric Ventures

Ruby Nimkar — fund partner at GreenHouse Capital

Gerhard Dinhof — senior architect and Blockchain Country Lead for IBM South Africa 

Chris Maurice — CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card

Denelle Dixon — CEO and executive director of Stellar Development Foundation 

Angela Itzikowitz — executive of ENSafrica’s banking and finance department Bishnen Kumalo — head of modernization at BankservAfrica

Ciaran Ryan — editor at MoneyWeb Crypto

Dave Uhryniak — blockchain strategy director at TRON 

Well-known Kenyan tech entrepreneur John Kamara will be leading the proceedings as the master of ceremonies.

Discussions at the conference will explore the following topics:

  • Are cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology the next generation of cross-border payments in Africa?

  • What is the value of self-sovereign identity to organizations and citizens in a South African context?

  • Are stablecoins the future of digital payments? 

  • What is the state of blockchain technology in enterprise adoption, and what’s next? 

  • Nonfungible Tokens, decentralized finance, decentralized autonomous organizations and the Metaverse: How are they reshaping the world around us?

  • Smart contracts can redefine business and are one of the biggest reasons people are excited about blockchain technology and investing in cryptocurrency. Which smart-contract platforms are ahead of the rest, and why?

  • How is blockchain technology unlocking the value of livestock in Africa? 

  • In an uncertain regulatory environment, a staggering $32.8 billion was invested into crypto and blockchain technology businesses in 2021. Is this set to continue, and what type of businesses are gaining traction? 

  • Nigeria recently became the first African country to launch a central bank digital currency, the eNaira. What does the future look like for CBDCs? 

  • Regulation and compliance: What type of digital asset regulation do we see globally, and what is the impact of regulation on the industry? 

The conference’s premier sponsor is DafriBank, a branchless fintech company that is part of the public DafriGroup family, providing customized financial services to clients in more than 180 countries.

Xolane Ndhlovu, DafriGroup’s chairman, said: “We are excited to be joining the 2022 edition of Blockchain Africa Conference as the official sponsor. We at DafriGroup see blockchain and crypto technologies as novel tools that could help rebuild Africa’s ineffectual financial system and strengthen intercontinental trade, and this is why we have supported and continue to support several blockchain and crypto-related initiatives within the continent. For instance, DafriBank became the first bank in Africa to accept depository in stablecoins, and aided our startup crypto exchange DafriXchange.” 

The event’s diamond sponsors are AmaZix, a leading marketing agency on the cutting edge of blockchain technology, and Metis, a Web3 Ethereum layer-2 solution.

Gold Sponsors include AltcoinTrader, Luno, CryptoCurrencyWire and QuidPro. 

Register for a free ticket here or visit the website for more information:. 

About Bitcoin Events 

Bitcoin Events is the first events company to host world-class blockchain and cryptocurrency-specific conferences in Africa. The company has hosted seven highly successful Blockchain Africa Conferences in Cape Town and Johannesburg as well as the 2021 online edition. Bitcoin Events has also introduced additional annual events such as Crypto Fest and DeFi conferences. 

A total of over 14,000 attendees from 165 countries and 239 global speakers have attended the events. 

For more information on the Blockchain Africa Conference 2022, visit the website or send an email.