Blockchain Africa Conference 2024: Ready for Business

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ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN AFRICA CONFERENCE 2024

Ready for Business

The Blockchain Africa Conference 2024, held on November 20 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Tshwane, South Africa, marked a significant milestone as the event celebrated its 10th edition.

Since its inception in 2015, the Blockchain Africa Conference has attracted about 10,900 attendees from 160 countries. The event has evolved with themes such as “Beyond the Hype,” “From Hype to Mainstream,” and “Ready for Business,” reflecting the dynamic progression of blockchain technology from speculative interest to practical application.

The conference featured a comprehensive programme, including 19 sessions, 37 speakers, and 3 workshops. The event commenced with a welcome address by Master of Ceremonies Chipo Mushwana (Executive for Payments and Technology at Nedbank). Keynote Speakers included Stafford Masie (Ex-CEO of Google Africa), Ernest Mbenkum (Founder and CEO of Interstellar Inc. and Founder of the Bantu Blockchain Foundation) and Cardano Founder and CEO of IOHK, Charles Hoskinson.

Stafford Masie’s Keynote titled “The Power of Bitcoin: Exploring the Ingenious Mechanism of Proof of Work” delved into the technical intricacies and transformative potential of Bitcoin’s consensus mechanism, offering insights into its application and future prospects.

Ernest Mbenkum discussed the transformative role of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in enabling seamless cross-border payments across Africa and highlighted its potential to accelerate economic integration on the continent by reducing reliance on foreign currencies and enhancing intra-African trade.

Charles Hoskinson emphasized the transformative potential of blockchain technology in Africa, focusing on its applications in finance, governance, and education in his Keynote Address.

He discussed the importance of decentralization and digital identity in addressing real-world challenges across the continent and leveraging blockchain to create inclusive financial systems and transparent governance structures, aiming to position Africa as a leader in technological innovation.

Visit the Bitcoin Events YouTube channel here to watch the recordings of the speaker sessions and panel discussions.

411

Registrations

37

Speakers

22

Countries

Watch the highlights

video

Photos

Speakers

Exhibitions

Networking

The Cocktail and Networking Event was sponsored by ChainUp.

Workshops

The workshops were sponsored by Financial Innovation Hub, Sponsored by the Interledger Foundation, RainFin and Idatco.

Cape Town Meetup and Networking Event

The networking event in Cape Town was sponsored by Binance.

Speaker Videos

Watch the speaker videos below or visit our YouTube channel here.

Master of Ceremonies
Chipo Mushwana


Executive for Payments and Technology at Nedbank
Welcome Address

Keynote Speaker
Stafford Masie


Ex-CEO of Google Africa (2006–09) and Non Executive Board Member at ADvTECH
Keynote Address: The Power of Bitcoin: Exploring the Ingenious Mechanism of Proof of Work

Keynote Speaker
Charles Hoskinson


Founder and CEO of IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong)
Keynote Address: Empowering Africa’s Digital Future

Keynote Speaker
Ernest Mbenkum


Founder and CEO of Interstellar Inc. and Founder of the Bantu Blockchain Foundation
Keynote Address: Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the Africa Currency Marketplace

Lorien Gamaroff


Co-Founder and CEO of Centbee
The Blockchain Boom That Wasn’t: A Decade in Review

Ryno Volschenk


Regional Manager at Masthead (PTY) LTD
Mastering Crypto Compliance in South Africa: Strategies for Success in a Regulated Landscape

Evelyn Abreu


Sales Manager Latam and EMEA at ChainUp
Borderless Banking for Africa: The Rise of Crypto in Cross-Border Payments

Wale Onawunmi


Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Zone Payment Network
Regulated Blockchain – Rails For The Next-Generation of Payments Solutions

Jevon Coffin-Grey


Co-Founder and CTO at Arrel Technology
Beyond the Wallet: Approaches to Institutional Crypto Custody

Sean Emery


Founder and CEO at RainFin
Can Tokenisation of Real World Assets Finally Solve Financial Inclusion?

Lorena Mathendu


Marketing Manager of Bitget
The World of Copy Trading

Carel de Jager


Research Group Leader at CSIR for DLT/Blockchain
Money as a Science: The Next Frontier in Industrial Research

Jurgen Kuhnel and Jevon Coffin-Grey


Co-Founder and CEO of Xago Technologies and Co-Founder and CTO at Arrel Technology
How Cryptocurrency Impacts Exchange Control Regulations in South Africa

Aubrey Mochela


Group Chief Technology Officer at City of Johannesburg
City of Johannesburg’s Digital Smart City Transformation Initiatives

Panel: Empowering the Future: Blockchain Education and Awareness


Moderator: Dr. Sebonkile Thaba: Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg
Anushka Soma-Patel: Independant Consultant | Web3 and Self-Sovereign Identity
Prof. Nnamdi Nwulu: Swiss Bilateral Chair in Blockchain Technology (SARChI) Professor: Sustainable Cyber-Physical Engineering Systems at the University of Johannesburg
Carel de Jager: Research Group Leader at CSIR for DLT/Blockchain

Panel: The Role of Crypto Exchanges in Africa and Beyond


Moderator: Devon Krantz: Chairwoman of the Board at Linum Labs
Chris Maurice: CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Card
Badi Sudhakaran: Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at VALR.com
Marius Reitz: General Manager for Africa at Luno

Panel: Digital Assets: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape in SA


Moderator: Michail Le Roux: Senior Legal Counsel at Hanekom Attorneys Inc.
Ayn Du Bazane: Senior Fintech Analyst at the South African Reserve Bank and Chair of the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group’s (IFWG) Crypto Asset Regulatory Working Group (CAR WG)
Anne Njoroge: Chief Legal Officer at BankservAfrica

Panel: Stablecoins in Africa: Understanding Their Adoption and Impact


Moderator: Victor Akoma-Philips: COO at Interstellar
Hannes Wessels: General Manager of Southern and Francophone Africa at Binance
Matthew Crow: Expansion Manager at Tether

Panel: Disrupting Traditional Banking: The Transformative Power of Blockchain Technology and Digital Assets


Moderator: Chantal Maritz: Financial Services Industry Leader – Risk and Consulting Services (Advisory) at PwC
Hari Chaitanya: Head – Investor Services, Africa at Standard Bank
Rikki Barnes: Head – Blockchain Enabler at FNB South Africa
Gideon Rossouw: Executive: Web3 Enablement at Nedbank

Fireside Chat: OGs Unplugged: Insights from Crypto and Blockchain Trailblazers, 10 Years Later


Host: Tanya Knowles: Business Manager at Adhara
Ernest Mbenkum (Keynote Speaker): Founder and CEO of Interstellar Inc. and Founder of the Bantu Blockchain Foundation
Alakanani Itireleng: Founder of Satoshicentre
Lorien Gamaroff: Co-Founder and CEO of Centbee

View Programme

SPEAKERS

Our global speakers are well-known thought leaders and experts in the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology space.

Chipo Mushwana (Master of Ceremonies) Executive for Payments and Technology at Nedbank

Chipo Mushwana is currently an Executive for Payments and Technology at Nedbank and boasts

Stafford Masie (Keynote Speaker) Ex-CEO of Google Africa (2006–09) and Non Executive Board Member at ADvTECH

Stafford Masie provides insights and views on technology-related matters and industry developments. A regular guest

Charles Hoskinson (Keynote Speaker) Founder and CEO of IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong)

Charles Hoskinson is a Colorado-based technology entrepreneur and mathematician. He attended Metropolitan

Ernest Mbenkum (Keynote Speaker) Founder and CEO of Interstellar Inc. and Founder of the Bantu Blockchain Foundation

Ernest Mbenkum is a prominent figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space,

Tanya Knowles

Tanya Knowles Business Manager at Adhara

Tanya is the Business Manager of Adhara, a global provider of liquidity

Anne Njoroge Chief Legal Officer at BankservAfrica

Anne is a legal and regulatory expert with vast experience in the

Gideon Rossouw Executive: Web3 Enablement at Nedbank

Gideon Rossouw is an Executive specializing in Web3 Enablement at Nedbank, where

Matthew Crow Expansion Manager at Tether

Matt is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion and innovation, dedicated to

Evelyn Abreu Sales Manager Latam and EMEA at ChainUp

Evelyn Abreu is a communications professional and business development specialist with over

Badi Sudhakaran Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at VALR.com

Badi Sudhakaran is a dynamic and visionary entrepreneur with a remarkable journey

Marius Reitz General Manager for Africa at Luno

Marius is the General Manager for Africa at Luno, a leading global

Rikki Barnes Head - Blockchain Enabler at FNB South Africa

Rikki Barnes has been with FirstRand for 12 years, predominantly in Foreign

Ayn Du Bazane Senior Fintech Analyst at the South African Reserve Bank and Chair of the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group’s (IFWG) Crypto Asset Regulatory Working Group (CAR WG)

Ayn du Bazane is a Senior Fintech Analyst at the South African

Wale Onawunmi Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Zone Payment Network

Wale Onawunmi is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Zone, where

Hannes Wessels General Manager of Southern and Francophone Africa at Binance

Hannes Wessels is the General Manager of Southern and Francophone Africa for

Carel de Jager Research Group Leader at CSIR for DLT/Blockchain

Carel de Jager is a passionate blockchain engineer, trainer, and architect building

Hari Chaitanya Head - Investor Services, Africa at Standard Bank

Based in Johannesburg, Hari Chaitanya is responsible for leading global product management

Chantal Maritz Financial Services Industry Leader - Risk and Consulting Services (Advisory) at PwC

Michail Le Roux Senior Legal Counsel at Hanekom Attorneys Inc.

Michail is an internationally recognized attorney with seven years of post-qualification experience

Lorien Gamaroff Co-Founder and CEO of Centbee

Lorien Gamaroff is the Co-founder and CEO of Centbee, a cryptocurrency payments

Jurgen Kuhnel Co-Founder and CEO of Xago Technologies Pty Ltd

Jurgen is a cryptocurrency enthusiast, trader and Co-founder and CEO of Xago

Prof. Nnamdi Nwulu Swiss Bilateral Chair in Blockchain Technology (SARChI) Professor: Sustainable Cyber-Physical Engineering Systems at the University of Johannesburg

Professor Nnamdi Nwulu is the Chair Holder South Africa/Switzerland Bilateral Research Chair

Devon Krantz Chairwoman of the Board at Linum Labs

Devon Krantz is a pioneering leader in the Web3 space, currently serving

Victor Akoma-Philips COO at Interstellar

Victor Akoma-Philips is a highly experienced individual with a background in finance

Alakanani Itireleng Founder of Satoshicentre

Alakanani Itireleng is a pioneering entrepreneur, global blockchain advocate, and influential leader

Jevon Coffin-Grey Co-Founder and CTO at Arrel Technology

As the Chief Technology Officer at Arrel, Jevon shapes the future of

Lorena Mathendu Marketing Manager of Bitget

Lorena Mathendu is a seasoned blockchain professional with over four years of

Anushka Soma-Patel Independant Consultant | Web3 and Self-Sovereign Identity

Anushka Soma-Patel is a recognized leader in blockchain-based digital identity and self-sovereign

Ryno Volschenk Regional Manager at Masthead (PTY) LTD

Ryno, an LLB graduate from the University of Pretoria and an admitted

Dr. Sebonkile Thaba Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg

Dr. Sebonkile Thaba is at the apex of integrating blockchain into education,

Aubrey Mochela Group Chief Technology Officer at City of Johannesburg

Aubrey Mochela is the Group Executive Director for Group Information Communication Technology

Sean Emery Founder and CEO at RainFin

Sean Emery is the Co-founder and CEO of RainFin, a pioneer in

Chris Maurice CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Card

Chris Maurice is an entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker who has led

Exhibitions

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 25 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

ChainUp is a global leader in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the dynamic world of digital assets.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Singapore since 2019, ChainUp is committed to empowering financial institutions with cutting-edge solutions that prioritize security, compliance, and innovation.

Illuminate harnesses the power of blockchain technology to provide a transparent, low-cost, and censorship-resistant solution for donations and advertising. By eliminating intermediaries and reducing fees, content creators can now enjoy a larger share of their hard-earned revenue, while fostering trust and direct engagement with their audience. The ultimate web3 protocol for advertising and payments. Illuminate was created out of a desire to change the creator ad economy forever, and now the idea is to change ads forever. 

Staking4All is a trusted provider of non-custodial staking services for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains and has extensive experience running full nodes, validator nodes, and RPC nodes, dating back to 2018,with a deep understanding of the technical requirements for successful staking. Staking4All prioritizes security and user control, ensuring that your funds are always under your control and that you never have to worry about losing access to your crypto.

Staking4All’s non-custodial delegation service makes it easy for anyone to participate in the exciting world of PoS consensus, earn rewards, and be a part of the future of decentralized finance.

Sumsub is a full-cycle verification platform that secures the whole user journey. With Sumsub’s customizable KYC, KYB, Transaction Monitoring, Fraud Prevention and Travel Rule solutions, you can orchestrate your verification process, welcome more customers worldwide, meet compliance requirements, reduce costs, and protect your business.

Sumsub has over 2,500 clients across the fintech, crypto, transportation, trading, e-commerce and gaming industries including Bitpanda, Wirex, Avis, Bybit, Huobi, Kaizen Gaming, and TransferGo.

The WIMS-Cardano SADC Community was established by Women In Move Solutions Pty Ltd, a South African company founded in 2018 by Bernard Sibanda (BSc). Bernard Sibanda is a Cardano Intersect Open Source Developer Advocate. Based in Southern and Central Africa, WIMS is a proud Cardano Intersect Enterprise Member dedicated to empowering individuals worldwide through the adoption and application of Cardano ecosystem technologies.

In Gauteng and North West provinces, WIMS has successfully organized and executed various Cardano activities which include: Cardano Summits (2022 and 2023), CIP-1694 consultations, the CATH program, Catalyst Working Group engagements, Voltaire Constitutional Workshops, Cardano Catalyst Community Reviews, grant proposals, open-source development projects and IT-focused Haskell/Plutus coding sessions for tertiary institutions.

Yellow Card Financial is the fastest growing cryptocurrency exchange on the African continent.

The company, founded by Chris Maurice and Justin Poiroux, launched in Nigeria in 2018, and since then the U.S. and Africa-based team have sought to make cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT stablecoin accessible to anyone in Africa.