Browsing: Remmitances in Africa

Afriex has raised US$10 million for its blockchain money transfer program as it aims to overrun Western Union and Money Gram in the market. www.theexchange.africa

Nigeria: Blockchain money transfer startup Afriex raises US$10 million funding

Investing

Afriex processes over US$5 million in monthly transfers. In comparison, Wise company transfers a monthly average of US$5.2 billion. However, Afriex has grown its customer base by 500 per cent in the last half a year, with half of its active users using the platform more than once a week.

Afriex makes money by arbitraging the currency and crypto exchange rates when a customer transacts. The startup raised a US$1.3 million seed round in May 2021 and has just closed a US$10 million Series A round at a $60 million valuation.

The financing was co-led by Sequoia Capital China and Dragonfly Capital, with participation from Stellar Foundation, Goldentree and Exceptional Capital, among others.…

Time to rethink the place of cryptocurrencies in the African economy. www.theexchange.africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Rethinking cryptocurrencies in the economy

Industry and Trade
  • The African continent receives only 2 per cent of the total global value of all cryptocurrencies.
  • Chainalysis ranks Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria as three of the top ten countries for cryptocurrency adoption globally
  • Many African countries have overlooked this financial innovation, maintaining cryptocurrency exchanges while failing to provide a regulatory framework or allowing trading but not providing an exchange for their citizens.

The development in internet access in sub-Saharan Africa has brought with it new technologies such as cryptocurrencies and blockchain that have the potential to enhance and significantly revolutionise financial and economic sectors.

The African continent receives only 2 per cent of the total global value of all cryptocurrencies. In February 2022, CoinGecko estimated the crypto market to be worth US$2.04 trillion, translating to a US$40 billion African market worth.

The rapid growth of crypto in the continent will profoundly impact the financial sector in sub-Saharan Africa, which …