So we have finally got a confirmed date for the digital currency conference in South Africa. Long have we known that such a conference was in the cards; but as far as any concrete details were concerned, we were all pretty much left in the dark – until now. Named “Bitcoin Africa,” the conference is scheduled to take place on April 16 to April 17, 2015.
As with a host of other conferences we have seen take place across the globe, the organisers are hoping to attract entrepreneurs in the technology start-up space, with the goal being for the conference to serve as a platform both educationally and inspirationally to the attendees. There have been no confirmed speakers at present, but we will be sure to keep you up-to-date as information rolls in.
Co-Organizer Theo Sauls had this to say:
“Bitcoin offers entrepreneurs and businesses a way to allow their clients to pay for goods and services and thereby paying less in transaction fees. It is a quick, safe and efficient payment method whether it be via an online or retail environment”
South Africa has struggled as late economically, with a combination of the mining strikes throughout the majority of last year and an untimely interest rate hike by the nation’s central bank. This struggle has led to very low participation rate in retail banking on a consumer level and there remain numerous barriers to entry with simple things such as opening a bank account. For this reason, many have suggested that bitcoin could offer an answer to these problems, and the conference scheduled for April has long been seen as essential catalyst for this taking place.
To date, bitcoin uptake has been relatively slow in Africa – despite its seeming application – but this could all change come Q2 2015. Will you be attending the conference? Are you in South Africa? Do you use bitcoin? Let us know!
Images courtesy of Creative Commons.