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DeFi

$300 Billion Reasons Why Africa’s Stablecoin Revolution Can’t Be Ignored

Stablecoins, Not Speculative Crypto, Are Powering Africa’s Real-World Finance
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     The Africa Stablecoin Summit 2025 revealed that stablecoins represent 43% of Africa’s crypto trading volume, with over $300 billion in annual transactions flowing through African markets. Momentum is shifting from pilots to policy—licensing, AML/CFT, and interoperable rails like PAPSS are central to unlocking faster, cheaper cross‑border payments. Debate intensifies over global vs. local stablecoins: USDT/USDC hedge inflation while CNGN, CKES, and ZAR drive utility; Nigeria’s ISA 2025 emerges as a regulatory blueprint. Stablecoins have become Africa’s new buzzword. Exchanges, startups, firms, and businesses are rushing to incorporate global and local stablecoins to simply be part of the …

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Revolut Fintech Picks Morocco as Africa’s Launchpad—Here’s Why

Revolut Fintech Appoints Local Leadership for Morocco Market Entry
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     Revolut fintech is expanding to Morocco with 52.5 million retail customers, £3.1 billion in 2024 revenue, and a $75 billion valuation, aiming for a full banking license within two years.  Phased strategy—start as a payment operator in Morocco, secure a full banking license within two years, led by local executives and tight regulatory alignment. With a $13 billion investment fund targeting 30 new markets by 2030, Revolut fintech positions Morocco as a strategic springboard for French-speaking African expansion. Decentralized finance, stablecoins, and digital assets are replacing standard payment systems, and Revolut fintech knows this all too well. …

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RETINA-AI CEO’s Bold Plan: Spend $1 Billion Annually on Nigeria’s AI Future

How government funding for AI talent development can transform Nigeria.
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,      Dr. Odaibo proposes a $2-10 billion AI talent development fund (minimum $1B annually) to transform Nigeria from tech consumer to global leader.  Nigeria must shift from seeking foreign investment to nurturing local AI talent, following India’s IT playbook to produce global tech leaders. Practical enablers like cloud access, laptops, and merit-based rewards are critical for Nigeria’s AI talent development success. AI, blockchain, Bitcoin, and fintech—these are the narratives currently blowing up Africa’s tech industry. An exclusive conversation with RETINA-AI Health’s Dr. Stephen Odaibo showcases how AI talent development takes the entire cake. His take was clear-cut, showing …

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PRESS RELEASE | Global AI Show 2025 Abu Dhabi Announces Its Visionary Partners and World-Class Speaker Lineup

by Kennedy Embakasi

The Global AI Show 2025 Abu Dhabi, a premier platform driving the future of artificial intelligence, proudly announces its visionary partners and world-class speaker lineup for its upcoming edition themed “AI:2031 – Accelerating Intelligent Futures.” Organized by VAP Group in association with Times of AI, the event will gather global technology leaders, pioneering researchers, influential policymakers, and innovative enterprises in Abu Dhabi — a thriving hub for digital transformation and smart innovation. We are pleased to have the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau supporting our mission, along with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Council, as …

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PRESS RELEASE | Global Blockchain Show 2025 to Spotlight Web3 Innovation in Abu Dhabi

by Kennedy Embakasi

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Global Blockchain Show 2025 will take place at the prestigious Space42 Arena in Abu Dhabi from December 10–11, 2025, bringing together the world’s top Web3 and blockchain specialists. Considered one of the leading conferences for decentralized innovation globally, the event will showcase creative ideas, stimulating conversations, and revolutionary solutions driving the next wave of digital transformation. Supported by the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and arranged in association with Times of Blockchain, the Global Blockchain Show enhances the UAE’s reputation as a world hub for blockchain innovation and quality. This year’s schedule is packed …

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The Accidental Pivot That Made Accrue Fintech Africa’s Stablecoin Remittance Leader

Accrue fintech grew its stablecoin remittance functionality from 4% to 60% of revenue in just seven months
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     Accrue Fintech’s stablecoin remittance feature exploded from 4% to 60% of revenue in just seven months, revealing massive demand for its human-powered cross-border payment solution.  By training 500 verified agents (selected from 16,000 applicants) to convert cash to stablecoins, Accrue created a familiar, trust-based alternative to algorithmic payment systems—mirroring the M-PESA model but running on blockchain rails. Accrue achieved profitability by mid-2023 and raised $1.58M in seed funding, positioning stablecoins as the future settlement layer for African money movement with lower fees (flat 1.5% vs. traditional 3% stacked costs) and instant transfers. Each nation operates its own …

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How Nigerian Founders Built a Trustless Cross-Chain Bridge to Fix Crypto’s $600M Security Flaw

Hyperbridge replaces flawed multisig bridges with mathematical guarantees
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     Nigerian engineers raised $5.8M to build Hyperbridge, a cross-chain bridge that processed $92.4M in transactions using cryptographic finality proofs instead of vulnerable multisig systems. Hyperbridge replaces flawed multisig bridges with mathematical guarantees, eliminating the $600M hack risks that have plagued blockchain interoperability since 2021. The Lagos-built protocol now serves as Polkadot’s native bridge, connecting 14 blockchains and providing African developers secure infrastructure to access global crypto liquidity. Nigeria isn’t just Africa’s leading P2P trading industry; it’s also the continent’s leading home for developers. The proof is vivid, especially from global blockchain ecosystems like Base, Lisk, and Polkadot, …

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Kenyan Regulators Prioritize Consumer Protection, Vendor Risk Mapping, and AML/CFT Oversight

At Kenya’s 16th annual retreat, seven financial regulators launched FinAccess sectoral reports (2006–2024) to steer vendor risk mapping
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     At Kenya’s 16th annual retreat, seven financial regulators launched FinAccess sectoral reports (2006–2024) to steer vendor risk mapping, consumer protection, and AML/CFT.  Kenya’s new Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act of 2025 formally regulates the crypto industry, assigning joint oversight to the Central Bank and Capital Markets Authority to manage everything from stablecoins to exchanges. Regulators link innovation to stability—map third‑party DLT dependencies early, strengthen consumer safeguards, and build credible backstops to prevent cascading failures. Kenya’s seven financial regulators orchestrated a comprehensive response to the sweeping changes in fintech, digital assets, and the nation’s recent VASP law …

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Inside Nigeria’s Ambitious Plan to Regulate Artificial Intelligence by 2030

A new National Artificial Intelligence Council (NAIC) and mandatory licensing for developers.
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     As AI is projected to boost Africa’s economy by up to $4.8 billion by 2030, the Nigeria AI bill aims to regulate this boom through a new National Artificial Intelligence Council (NAIC). The proposed bill requires AI developers, importers, and commercial operators in Nigeria to register with and get approval from a new national council.  Critics fear the Nigeria AI bill’s focus on control and compliance could create bureaucratic hurdles that stifle startups and be misused to block foreign platforms. AI is the next new frontier of technology alongside blockchain, and African regulators intend not to make the same …

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MTN MoMo’s ₦131 Billion Secret: The Airtime Loan Gold Rush

The Race Nobody Expected Telcos to Lose: Is MTN MoMo the Exception?
by Kennedy Embakasi

TL;DR,     MTN MoMo generated $91.64 million (₦131.62 billion) in nine months, but 63% came from airtime lending, highlighting a need to diversify its core mobile money services. While telcos are losing the mobile money race to nimbler fintechs like OPay and PalmPay, MTN is recalibrating its strategy by focusing on quality users and ecosystem growth. The majority of MTN’s impressive $91.64 million fintech revenue comes from its Xtratime airtime lending service, a dependency the company is now trying to move beyond. MTN Nigeria’s fintech arm, MTN MoMo, recently broke expectations by announcing a total of $91.64 million (₦131.62 billion) …

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