Chairman of Capital Markets Authority of Kenya🇰🇪 (CMA Kenya) Reportedly Welcomes Crypto Innovations to CMA Kenya Sandbox

CMA Kenya will accommodate crypto startups to its sandbox, according to Chairman, Nicholas Nesbitt

In 2021, the regulator disclosed that out of 24 applications submitted to the sandbox since March 2019, at least 9 have been related to blockchain technology and tokenization of real estate. However in an exclusive BitKE article, CMA admitted that they had faced several challenges with blockchain firms in the sandbox.

See details here:
https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/cma-kenya-reportedly-welcomes-crypto-innovations-to-the-sandbox/

Celo Announces Web3 Fund for African Startups Looking to Transition From Web2

Up to 50 successful applicants will secure access to equity investors, venture capital funding, technical and business mentorship, marketing support, and DEX Listings

See details and deadlines for applications:

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/celo-announces-web3-fund-for-african-startups/

Why is this UN Body Pushing for Developing Nations in Africa to Regulate CryptoCurrencies?

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says crypto could replace ‘domestic currencies.’

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/unctad-pushing-for-developing-nations-to-regulate-crypto/

[WATCH] Ethereum ( $ETH ) Price History Bar Chart in the Last 7 Years (November 2015 – May 2022)

The video highlights the progress of Ethereum's value over time covering different ups and downs from November 2014 - May 2022.

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/ethereum-price-history-over-the-last-7-years/

Mercy Corps is Piloting a Buy Now Pay Later Product for Street Food Vendors in Kenya🇰🇪 by Leveraging DeFi

The pilot, in partnership with Kwanza Tukule, a company that helps small food vendors across Kenya get their supplies, will test the provision of cheaper and short-term capital to MSMEs in Nairobi (including informal food vendors, micro-retailers, and gig economy drivers).

Liquidity providers globally will deposit fiat currency into the SympliFi platform bridged to a stablecoin and into Kenya Shillings

See the pilot details here:
https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/bnpl-defi-pilot-for-street-vendors-in-kenya/

Bank of Central African States Now Considering Joint CBDC for 6 Francophone African Countries

The board of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), the regional bank for the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) member states, is asking the bank to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

BEAC stated roles include:

* Manage the region’s monetary policy
* Issue currency
* Drive the exchange rate of the region
* Manage the foreign reserves of the member states
* Facilitate payments and settlement systems

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/beac-considering-joint-cbdc/

SeedStars Launches $30 Million Emerging Market Fund Targeting Seed Stage Startups

Since 2013, they have supported over 90 emerging market venture ecosystems. In June 2019, its pitching competition in Kenya had 10 pitchers, including 3 blockchain-based.

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/seedstars-launches-30-million-dollars-emerging-market-fund/

Kenya🇰🇪 CBDC Will Derail ‘Remarkable’ Fintech and M-PESA Progress, Warns IMF

The IMF urged Kenya to offer assurances that the CBDC would not 'substitute' existing innovations, but instead, would 'complement.'

IMF also raised doubts over the feasibility of the central bank sharing CBDC data to support private lenders saying . . . .

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/kenya-cbdc-will-derail-fintech-progress-warns-imf/

How This Kenyan Solana NFT Project Raised 1,000 $SOL to Create Over 1,000 Jobs in Africa’s Largest Slum

Through an initiative they called 'Pandas not Plastic Initiative,' they sought 1,000 $SOL, with degens as well as other $SOL holders, contributing small amounts on fundraising platforms such as Stata Protocol.

Some of the community members also minted degen Panda NFTs with funds going to the fundraise.

This post explores the project and how it was able to raise the funding:

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/kenyan-solana-nft-project-raises-1000-sol/

Top 10 Largest Raises in Crypto in Q2 2022

When it comes to the top 10 Q2 2022 deals, Epic Games leads the way with a $2 billion investment from the likes of Sony, as the video games developer pursues Web3.

Here is the list of the largest raises in Q2, 2022 (No.6 is a fast-growing protocol in Africa):

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/top-10-largest-raises-in-crypto-in-q2-2022/

CAR🇨🇫 Citizenship Now Available If You Hold $60K Worth of Sango Coins for 5 Years

Here is what you can get by holding Sango Coins:

* Buy Central African Republic (CAR) citizenship for $60,000 worth of Sango Coins held for 5 years

* e-Residency in CAR available for $6,000 held for 3 years

* A 250-metre square plot in CAR for $10,000 for 10 years

See more details here:
https://bitcoinke.io/2022/07/central-african-republic-citizenship-worth-60k-dollars-for-5-years/

[IN PICTURES 🖼] The Celo Africa Web3 Fund Inaugural Event Kicks Off in Kenya 🇰🇪 – Next Stop, Nigeria 🇳🇬

The Celo Web3 fund is a funding initiative that seeks to provide financial investments through its VC partners and technical assistance for projects looking to transition from Web2 to Web3.

Here is the 2022 Celo Web3 Fund itinerary:

* July - Kenya🇰🇪
* August - Nigeria🇳🇬
* September - Ghana🇬🇭
* October - Uganda🇺🇬
* November - South Africa🇿🇦

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/the-celo-africa-web3-fund-inaugural-event/

The Kenya🇰🇪 Copyright Board Issues Advisory Against Exploiting 'Copyrighted Memes' as NFTs

The regulatory board went further and stated that ulitilizing such memes as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) amounts to copyright infringement under the laws of Kenya

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/the-kenya-copyright-board-issues-advisory-against-nfts-copyright/

Its Friday!

Instagram Begins NFTs Trials in Africa🌍

Users in Africa will now be able to connect their Instagram accounts to a crypto wallet and add an NFT collection to the social media service.

Supported chains:
* Ethereum $ETH
* Polygon $MATIC
* Flow $FLOW

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/instagram-begins-nfts-trials-in-africa/

EFCC Nigeria 🇳🇬 Raids FX Offices Amidst Dollar Crunch and a Destabilizing Naira

The anti- graft agency is working on intelligence that some forces with massive Naira inflow are busy buying US Dollar to either hoard or smuggle out of Nigeria

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/efcc-raids-fx-offices-amidst-a-destabilizing-naira/

Tanzania🇹🇿 Inflation Rate Hits 4.4% in June 2022 – One of the Lowest in Africa

Tanzanian inflation data stands as follows:

* March 2022 (3.6%)
* April 2022 (3.8%)
* May 2022 (4%)
* June 2022 (4.4%)

Learn why the Tanzanian inflation rate is one of the lowest in Africa below:

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/inflation-in-tanzania/

BitDAO, the leading DAO in the world, Votes to Fund AfricaDAO with $20 Million to Accelerate Web3 Adoption in Africa

BitDAO was formed in 2021, and aims to promote the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi). The DAO has so far raised $230 million from high-profile investors such as Peter Thiel.

AfricaDAO’s proposal highlighted 3 main areas of focus for the fund:

* Funding rounds for Africa companies

* Investments in Web3 talents across Africa

* Supporting Web3-based educational initiatives

AfricaDAO has also drawn soft support and commitments from Polygon and Synthetix among others.

See full details here:
https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/bitdao-votes-to-fund-africadao/

[WATCH] ‘We are Positioning Zambia🇿🇲 as a Destination with Progressive Regulatory Frameworks,’ Says CEO, BongoHive

BongoHive is a 10-year old technology and innovation hub in Zambia spearheading the adoption of various technologies in Zambia, including blockchain.

"We’re open for business and for many startups to come here.” - Lukonga, Founder / CEO, BongoHive

In this interview, the CEO of BongoHive discusses:

* How is the fintech space in Zambia compared to Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa?
* How supportive is the government of tech innovations?
* What is the state of blockchain adoption in Zambia?

. . . . among others.

Watch this exclusive and enlightening interview here:

https://bitcoinke.io/2022/08/a-chat-with-bongohive-zambia/