Author: Ese Williams

In early April 2026, SMC DAO completed the acquisition of Nigerian crypto startup Bread Africa in a six-figure cash transaction. This move strengthens SMC DAO’s presence in Nigeria, one of Africa’s most active crypto markets. Bread Africa’s platform enables users to convert digital assets into Nigerian naira quickly and efficiently, bridging the gap between cryptocurrency and everyday financial transactions. The acquisition positions SMC DAO to deliver practical financial solutions to Nigerian crypto users while expanding its regional influence. SMC DAO (SirMapy and Co. DAO) is a decentralised autonomous organisation where members collectively make decisions on investments and product development. It…

Introduction: Why Events Matter More Than Ever You can build in isolation, but you won’t go far. That’s one of the quiet truths in Web3. Behind every breakout founder, every funded startup, and every developer who “made it” there are rooms. Conversations. Communities. Because this space doesn’t just run on code. It runs on people. Across Africa, that reality is becoming clearer: Yet many are still building in silos, missing the environments designed to accelerate them. Events change that. And in Africa, where opportunity is often tied to whom you meet and where you show up, events are not optional;…

A structural shift is quietly unfolding in global finance. Asset management giant Invesco has entered the growing market for tokenized U.S. Treasuries, taking over a fund previously managed by Superstate. In doing so, it joins firms such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton in bringing traditional financial instruments onto blockchain infrastructure. While this development is rooted in global markets, it raises important questions when viewed through an African lens. Understanding Tokenized U.S. Treasuries Tokenized U.S. Treasuries are government bonds issued or represented on blockchain networks. Traditionally, these instruments have been: By moving them on-chain, institutions are introducing: This represents a shift…

Africa’s crypto ecosystem is showing signs of progress, but the risks are far from over. A newly released 2026 report by Sumsub reveals that the African crypto fraud rate dropped by 28% year-on-year in 2025, marking a significant improvement in how fraud is being detected and prevented across the continent. But while the numbers point to progress, the nature of crypto fraud is evolving fast and becoming harder to detect. Africa Crypto Fraud Rate Declines in 2025 The Africa crypto fraud rate saw a sharp 28% decline in 2025, according to SumSub’s latest industry report. This drop reflects growing adoption…

A new iPhone exploit known as DarkSword is putting cryptocurrency wallets at risk around the world, and Africa is not immune. Security researchers warn that this malware can silently steal sensitive information from iPhones, including crypto wallets, passwords, messages, and even location data. For African crypto users, many of whom rely on mobile devices as their main gateway to finance, the threat is serious, but there are ways to protect yourself. What African Crypto Users Need to Know About DarkSword DarkSword isn’t a single bug—it’s a chain of exploits targeting iPhones running iOS 18.4 to 18.7. Once it gains access,…

Bitcoin mining just became easier, but the reason behind it reveals a deeper shift in the network. On March 20, the Bitcoin network reduced its mining difficulty by about 7.7%, bringing it down to roughly 133 trillion, compared to the 145–148 trillion range seen earlier this year. At face value, this is good news for miners. Lower difficulty means less computational effort is required to mine new blocks, improving short-term profitability. But zoom out, and a more important shift comes into focus. A Network Slowing Down Bitcoin is engineered to produce a block every 10 minutes. When that rhythm breaks,…

The Crypto Conference Johannesburg 2026 will take place on March 18–19 at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Johannesburg. The event brings together regulators, institutional investors, fintech leaders, and digital asset experts to explore the latest developments in CARF, risk management, and compliance across Africa’s growing crypto market. This conference represents a critical moment for the institutionalisation of digital assets on the continent, offering practical insights and networking opportunities for anyone involved in the African crypto ecosystem. About the Crypto Conference Johannesburg 2026 Hosted by Trade Conferences International, the Crypto Conference Johannesburg 2026 is a premier event for professionals navigating the…

Key Highlights Africa Bitcoin Conference 2026 Moves to Malawi The Africa Bitcoin Conference 2026 is reaching a new milestone. For its fifth edition, the event will be held in Blantyre, marking the first time the conference takes place in Malawi. Scheduled for December 2–5, 2026, the conference is expected to bring together developers, investors, builders, and everyday users shaping how Bitcoin is used across Africa. This is more than a change in venue; it reflects a broader shift in Bitcoin adoption across the continent, moving beyond established tech capitals into emerging regions. Why Blantyre Matters for Bitcoin Adoption Choosing Blantyre…

Africa’s cryptocurrency sector is entering a new phase defined not just by rapid adoption but by formal regulation and institutional oversight. On March 10, 2026, the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission, working in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana, launched a regulatory sandbox designed to allow selected companies to test digital asset services under supervised conditions. The initiative is part of the country’s broader implementation of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act 2025, a legislative framework aimed at regulating cryptocurrency businesses while fostering innovation in financial technology. Among the 11 firms admitted into the programme is WhiteBIT, one of Europe’s…

South Africa’s national electricity utility is exploring an unconventional way to monetise excess power: selling it to Bitcoin miners. Speaking at the BizNews Conference 2026 in Hermanus, Eskom Chairman Mteto Nyati revealed that the company is considering supplying surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining companies operating in South Africa. The proposal comes at a surprising moment for the country’s energy sector. After more than a decade defined by power shortages and rolling blackouts, Eskom is now dealing with a new challenge — periods of excess electricity during the daytime. Nyati said the utility wants to sell this unused capacity at discounted…