Akoin, a cryptocurrency project from famous singer Akon, has joined up with blockchain financial infrastructure company Delchain. “Bahamas-based digital asset management leader Delchain, an affiliate of Deltec, has provided strategic advisory services and expertise in connection with Akoin’s token generation event on a top tier exchange, scheduled for Q2 of 2020,” Akoin president and co-founder Jon Karas said in an email to Cointelegraph. Delchain and Akoin contacted Cointelegraph, stating Delchain is part of Deltec International Group, not Deltec Bank and Trust Limited as was previously stated in this article before its update. A representative from Deltec International Group confirmed to …

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is reportedly developing a regulatory sandbox for cryptocurrency companies in the country. The news was reported on March 16 by local newspaper Chronicle, citing a representative from the bank speaking at a conference on March 13. Chronicle reports that RBZ’s deputy director for financial markets and national payment systems, Josephat Mutepfa, revealed that the bank is working on a regulatory framework that would see companies involved with cryptocurrency go through a special regulatory sandbox. The sandbox will reportedly help the bank decide if a particular company can be allowed to operate independently. Speaking at …

Rapper and entrepreneur, Akon, shared the whitepaper for his upcoming ‘Akoin’ cryptocurrency project exclusively with Cointelegraph. The document describes Akoin as a cryptocurrency “designed for entrepreneurs in the rising economies of Africa and beyond,” adding that the project’s mission is to “unlock the potential of the world’s largest growing workforce” using blockchain technology. Mobile credit trading in Africa The whitepaper describes Akoins as utility tokens that power “atomic swaps” between cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and mobile phone credits on the Akoin network. Speaking with Cointelegraph, Akon emphasized that mobile credits are being used as a currency in Africa, stating: “We have …

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has announced that the company will launch a fiat gateway for South African users, allowing them to make Rand deposits. The announcement was made on day one of the Blockchain Africa conference being held in Johannesburg this week. CZ confirmed that South African traders would soon be able to make Rand deposits on the platform through the Binance website. This is part of an ongoing push into Africa that started in Uganda in 2018: “Africa illustrates one of the largest demands and instrumental use cases for cryptocurrency, notably for financial access. According to the World Bank, …

Alternet Systems Inc (ALYI), an energy storage, military application, and electric motorcycle firm, has entered into a new partnership to launch a cryptocurrency dedicated to funding electric vehicle projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a March 11 announcement. While Alternet did not name the company it has partnered with, Alternet Systems revealed that the cryptocurrency has successfully been minted on the Ethereum blockchain. Alternet Systems plans $100 million ICO ALYI plans to raise $100 million through an initial coin offering (ICO), adding that the planned token sale has “received interest from an investor that may underwrite the $100 million offering.” …

Impressive use-cases of blockchain technology have come to the fore after the conclusion of the 2020 Blockchain Africa Conference in South Africa. The event went ahead as planned in early March despite the global coronavirus pandemic that has made headlines around the world. The viral outbreak led to keynote speaker Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, cancelling his trip to South Africa due to travel restrictions. The event also suffered a drop-off in attendance due to fears around the virus, but there were still over 230 delegates present on day one while day two numbers dropped slightly. Renowned cryptocurrency investor and …

It has been nearly two decades since the world saw the introduction of a new multinational currency bloc that would alter the balance of global power. Just like the euro, a new currency is taking shape that can compare in scope and vision. Only this time, it’s happening in Africa, and shockingly it’s not digital. The West African Monetary and Economic Union state countries are currently in transition to adopt a new currency that will be used in a single market across a dozen or more West African countries — the Eco. Pegged to the euro, it is designed to …

The South African Presidential Commision on the Fourth Industrial Revolution believes that blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence could help reduce unemployment in the country. Commissioner Mpho Dagada told the Blockchain Africa Conference in Johannesburg this week that blockchain could bring important economic benefits. “We face two significant challenges in the country: reducing unemployment and increasing our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said. “[The] Fourth Industrial Revolution policy creation can create economic growth in the country.” Dagada said that South Africa’s mining sector in particular could benefit from forward thinking solutions utilizing blockchain technology, in partnership with AI: “The South African …

The Blockchain Africa conference kicked off on Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa, despite rising concerns about the Coronavirus outbreak. South Africa’s first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the beginning of the month. As of March 11, thirteen South Africans have tested positive for the virus. Despite the relatively low infection rate in the country, the South African government has taken a proactive and cautious approach to the virus. They have based their considerations on the dire situation in countries like China and Italy. Nevertheless, the ongoing crisis and travel restrictions have led to some difficulties for Blockchain Africa’s attendees. …

The second day of Fintech Worldwide’s Blockchain Summit kicked off to unusually glorious sunshine. But you’d be hard pressed to notice that in the venue because there was no natural light filtering through to the handful of attendees that braved the ongoing coronavirus scare. Despite COVID-19’s spectre looming large over the conference, panelists spoke about an impressive range of topics, including how Blockchain can help local women in the Maasai Mara, to the day’s debate on the state of adoption. As MakerDAO’s Gustav Arentoft told me during the conference, speakers in London often come from a more institutional perspective that …

As part of ongoing fiat-to-crypto expansion, major cryptocurrency Binance is adding support for the Nigerian Naira (NGN) on its peer-to-peer (P2P) platform. Binance P2P, a consumer-to-consumer business arm of Binance exchange, is rolling out support for the first African fiat currency on its platform. According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, Binance P2P users can trade major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) using NGN with zero transaction fees starting from March 4. Users in Nigeria can now post trade ads via P2P Merchants The NGN integration also allows users in Nigeria to directly purchase and sell cryptos like Bitcoin, Ether …

Blockchain usage is exploding around the world. But despite the technology’s many vocal advocates, the spread of technology is never even. Adoption is limited by a number of factors, including infrastructure development, local resources and regulation. As happens with the spread of any emerging technology, certain regions are pulling ahead of the pack. Radoslav Dragov, the blockchain lead for the International Data Corporation, explained that there are a number of factors that can create favorable conditions for adoption, varying from investment to talent, adding: “Beyond these factors, blockchain investment is very much influenced by current and upcoming regulation, and the …