Author: Louis Dike
Louis Dike
Louis Dike is the Publisher of Coinafrica, leveraging years of experience driving growth for global exchanges like Bybit, Bitget, and VTrader across Africa. A former Binance Tutor, he now channels his expertise into clear, insightful reporting that amplifies Africa’s voice in the global Web3 economy.
The Africa crypto market is navigating renewed global volatility today, as Bitcoin and major digital assets experience price pressure while regulatory signals and liquidity concerns shape investor sentiment worldwide. Although today’s headlines are largely global, their ripple effects extend directly into African crypto trading hubs, where liquidity, price sentiment, and regulatory clarity remain closely tied to international developments. Bitcoin and Major Cryptos Face Renewed Pressure Bitcoin and leading altcoins declined again today, reflecting broader macroeconomic caution and anticipation around U.S. economic data that could influence interest rate expectations. For African markets — particularly Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa — global…
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has confirmed it accidentally paid out 2,000 bitcoins to customers instead of small cash rewards, resulting in a mistaken distribution valued at over $40 billion at the time. The incident, first reported by BBC News, occurred during a customer reward campaign where the exchange intended to credit users with 2,000 South Korean won (approximately $1.37) each. Instead, a system error caused some users to receive 2,000 BTC. 695 Users Briefly Became Multi-Millionaires As a result of the error, 695 customers briefly found themselves holding massive bitcoin balances, instantly turning them into crypto millionaires on paper.…
As of February 2026, the Nigeria crypto market has evolved into a sophisticated digital economy. While the global market eyes Bitcoin’s price fluctuations, Nigeria has solidified its position as a global leader in functional crypto adoption. Specifically, the country has pivoted toward stablecoins as a primary tool for wealth preservation and cross-border trade. The Stablecoin Revolution: $22 Billion and Counting Nigeria is currently the heavyweight champion of stablecoin utility. According to recent data, stablecoin transaction volume in the country has surpassed $22 billion this year alone. The driver behind this is clear: the Naira’s historical volatility. Nigerians are no longer…
South African payments platform Ozow has expanded its offering to support cryptocurrency payments, marking another step toward the mainstream integration of digital assets in one of Africa’s most regulated crypto markets. The move allows merchants using Ozow’s platform to accept payments funded by cryptocurrencies, enabling consumers to pay for goods and services online using digital assets alongside traditional payment methods. Why This Matters for South Africa South Africa has emerged as Africa’s most institutionally aligned crypto market, following years of regulatory engagement and clearer oversight of crypto asset service providers. Ozow’s decision reflects several market realities: Rather than positioning crypto…
Internet personality IShowSpeed was recently captured completing a real-world purchase in Nigeria using Tether’s USDT stablecoin, sparking widespread discussion about the growing use of cryptocurrencies — especially stablecoins — as a practical payment method rather than just a speculative asset. The viral clip, shared by Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, shows IShowSpeed using USDT at a retail outlet in Lagos to buy a pair of earrings valued at approximately 2.3 million naira (about $1,500 USD). According to reports, the merchant accepted the stablecoin payment directly, and the transaction was completed within seconds. Nigeria’s Role in Stablecoin Payments Nigeria continues to…
Unlike previous bull cycles, 2025 was not a year of widespread mega-rounds for Africa’s crypto startups. Instead, capital flowed selectively into infrastructure, payments, and ecosystem enablement — with far fewer publicly disclosed raises. This article reflects only verified, defensible activity, separating: Verified Crypto & Web3 Funding Activity in 2025 Ezeebit Origin: South AfricaFunding Type: Seed roundAmount: ~$2.05 million (R35m)Sector: Crypto & stablecoin payments infrastructure Ezeebit was one of the few Africa-based crypto startups to publicly disclose a funding round in 2025, raising approximately R35 million (~$2.05M). The startup focuses on building regulated crypto and stablecoin payment rails for merchants and…
Africa’s Crypto Market Shows Fresh Momentum Today Africa’s crypto market is entering the new year with renewed confidence, as improving global sentiment, expanding stablecoin usage, and stronger platform security shape the continent’s digital asset landscape. From price action to real-world utility, today’s developments point to a maturing ecosystem driven less by speculation and more by everyday financial use cases. Market Sentiment Improves as Prices Tick Up Crypto prices opened the year on a positive note, with Bitcoin holding strong above key psychological levels and select altcoins posting notable gains. Across African markets, traders and users report improved sentiment as global…
Africa’s blockchain ecosystem is preparing for a major milestone as Ibom Blockchain Xperience 2026 (IBX2026) gears up to host what is expected to be one of the continent’s largest and most influential Web3 events. Scheduled for March 2026, the event will bring together blockchain developers, crypto startups, policymakers, investors, and global Web3 leaders to explore how decentralized technologies are being built, adopted, and regulated across Africa. A Platform for Builders, Not Just Speculation Unlike many crypto conferences focused primarily on trading or market hype, Ibom Blockchain Xperience 2026 is positioning itself as a builder-first ecosystem event. Organisers say the conference…
TL;DR: The Quick Take As of this morning, January 20, the global crypto market cap has retreated to $3.07 trillion. For many African retail investors in Lagos and Nairobi, the sight of $90k Bitcoin feels like a stress test. However, data from S&P Global Ratings released today suggests that stablecoin adoption in emerging markets could surge to $730 billion by year-end. For Coinafrica readers, the question isn’t just about Bitcoin’s price—it’s about Liquidity. With the SEC’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Program (ARIP) now active in Nigeria, more local exchanges are providing the “off-ramps” needed to survive this volatility. See more related:…
TL;DR: The Quick Take The African blockchain ecosystem has officially moved past the “hype” phase. In 2026, the focus has shifted toward addressing real-world infrastructure challenges, including inflation, cross-border trade, and financial inclusion. As traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) converge, several homegrown projects are leading the charge. Here are the top five African blockchain startups you need to keep on your radar this year. 1. HoneyCoin (Kenya) – Scaling Stablecoin Payments HoneyCoin has emerged as a powerhouse in the cross-border payment space. By leveraging stablecoins, they’ve bypassed the fragmented traditional banking rails that often slow down intra-African trade.…