Blockchain at African Conferences

I’ve just wrapped up an inspiring week speaking at two major conferences in Africa. The BiG Africa iGaming Summit in Botswana and the Africa FinTech Forum in South Africa. I used these platforms to highlight the potential of Bitcoin SV (BSV) and dive into the philosophical roots of Bitcoin’s purpose and structure. It was a chance to challenge misconceptions and show how blockchain can work with, not against, the systems shaping our world.

Bringing BSV to Botswana’s iGaming Scene

On Monday and Tuesday 16th and 17th February 2025, I was in Gaborone, Botswana, for the BiG Africa iGaming Summit, the continent’s biggest event for the iGaming industry. Botswana’s recent legalisation of online gambling and sports betting has sparked excitement, and the summit brought together operators, affiliates, and regulators eager to explore new tools. On the first day, I ran a workshop unpacking the philosophy behind Bitcoin. I explained how Satoshi Nakamoto envisioned a transparent, traceable system. Not the anonymous, ungovernable myth many believe in. BSV embodies that vision, and I showed how it can support oversight while adding value to iGaming.

The next day, I shifted gears to practical applications. I presented how BSV’s low-cost, instant transactions make micro-payments and payouts a breeze. Something clunky credit card systems can’t match due to high fees and fraud risks. I also highlighted its ability to process multiple payments in one go, perfect for settling with affiliates or multiple winners, and how its public ledger proves game fairness. Chatting with attendees, including Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, I saw their interest pique as they realised BSV could boost trust and competitiveness in this fast-growing sector.

Connecting with Regulators in Johannesburg

By Wednesday, I was back in Johannesburg for the Africa FinTech Forum, a conference focused on financial inclusion across the continent. With regulators, mobile money providers, and KYC specialists in the room, I shared my experiences from Centbee’s time in South Africa’s regulatory sandbox for Crypto Asset Service Providers. This programme let us operate under close watch, proving BSV could meet anti-money laundering and KYC standards. I showed how its pseudonymous, traceable transactions give regulators visibility without sacrificing privacy. A stark contrast to the anonymity-focused coins that dominate headlines.

I also pointed out a challenge: regulators often lump all crypto into one category, despite the huge differences between trading platforms, payment systems, and remittance services. Drawing from the sandbox, I suggested they need tailored guidelines to truly grasp blockchain’s potential, especially for Africa, where sky-high remittance costs beg for solutions like BSV’s efficient transactions.

Rethinking Bitcoin’s Purpose

At both events, I couldn’t resist digging into the philosophy of Bitcoin. I believe the crypto world’s fixation on decentralisation and anonymity. Think Monero or Zcash, strays far from what Satoshi intended. Bitcoin wasn’t meant to be an anarchist weapon against central systems; it was built as a ledger that works with regulation. BSV keeps that spirit alive with its traceability and accountability, letting authorities track fraud or seize illicit funds when needed. I love seeing the surprise on people’s faces, especially regulators, when I explain this. They’ve been sold a story of Bitcoin as a dark web rebel, but I’m here to set the record straight: it’s a tool for transparency, not chaos.

These conferences were a whirlwind, but they reinforced my conviction that BSV can bridge industries like iGaming and fintech with the regulatory world. Whether it’s proving fairness in Botswana’s gaming platforms or slashing remittance costs in Johannesburg, I’m excited to keep pushing this vision forward, and challenging the crypto myths along the way.