The 21 Most Impactful African Bitcoiners of 2022
These fine folk have been an inspiration to ourselves and our community. They are passionate not only about Bitcoin, but more importantly, about using this wonderful tool to bring freedom to the people of Africa. We are grateful for all they do in committing their time and influence to this hugely impactful work. Thank you 🙏🏼
01
Farida Bemba Nabourema
Convener: African Bitcoin Conference
Farida Bemba Nabourema is the convener of the African Bitcoin Conference held in Ghana. She is a Togolese human rights activist, writer, and firm believer that bitcoin is vital for human rights and freedom. Farida has risen to become one of the most influential faces in the efforts for democracy in Togo and the West African region.
02
Kgothatso Ngako
Founder: Machankura
For the longest time, Bitcoin adoption in Africa had a big challenge: Internet access. Kgothatso Ngako together with his team built the incredible Machankura that allows anyone to buy and send Bitcoin without an internet connection.
03
Ray Youseff
Co-founder: Paxful
Ray is the co-founder and CEO of Paxful and Built with Bitcoin Foundation, born in Egypt and raised in New York, Even though he grew up in NY, Ray Youssef has contributed to bitcoin adoption in Africa with his peer-to-peer platform with over ten million users Paxful.
04
Hermann Vivier
Founder: Bitcoin Ekasi
Hermann Vivier is the founder of The Surfer Kids and Bitcoin Ekasi. Bitcoin Ekasi was founded with the idea to use Bitcoin as a means of fostering financial and personal empowerment. Bitcoin Ekasi aims to use a well-established community platform (The Surfer Kids NPO) to create a Bitcoin economy in the township already serviced by that non-profit organization.
05
Anita Posch
Founder: Bitcoin for Fairness
Anita Posch may not be African but her impact in Africa can not be overlooked, She is a Bitcoin advocate, educator, podcaster, author, and the founder of Bitcoin for Fairness. Anita’s goal is to bring Bitcoin to billions through her educational work. She has developed a Bitcoin podcast, a YouTube channel and wrote the book (L)earn Bitcoin.
06
Alakanani Itireleng
Founder: Satoshi Centre
Our 6th Most Impactful African Bitcoiner is Alakanani Itireleng. @bitcoinlady created Satoshi Centre in Botswana for the purpose of educating the local people about Bitcoin. Alakanani started singlehandedly and self-funded by educating and building the Bitcoin community in Botswana in her home town of Gaborone. Her success is an inspiration to us!
07
Bernard Parah
Founder: Bitnob
Bernard Parah is the CEO of Bitnob. He is a Nigerian Entrepreneur and Software Engineer. Bernard leads his company’s efforts in building financial services for Africans. He is focused on making sure every African gets the opportunities that comes with Bitcoin.
08
Craig Raw
Founder: Sparrow Wallet
Craig Raw is a South African founder and developer of Sparrow Wallet, a Bitcoin desktop wallet focused on multi-signatures for distributed self-custody and privacy. His Sparrow wallet has become one of the most loved self-custodial wallets for Africans to store Bitcoin safely.
09
Carel van Wyk
Ex Co-founder: Luno
Carel van Wyk is a Bitcoin pioneer and ex-co-founder of Luno from South Africa. He has contributed to Bitcoin adoption in Africa. His recent outstanding work is Cryptoconvert.
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Guantai Kathurima
Founder: BitcoinMtaani
Guantai Kathurima is a Kenyan who believes in Bitcoin education
He is the founder of BitcoinMtaani, a Bitcoin Education Platform which aims to provide a viable solution to the language barrier most Africans face in learning about Bitcoin. Guantai is also the Director at Machankura.
12
Mary Imasuen
Host: Nobcast
Mary Imasuen is the Content/Creative Media Associate at Bitnob. She’s the host of The Nobcast, a bitcoin podcast by Bitnob, and The FintechX Podcast, a podcast where she gives her take on fintech, personal finance, and bitcoin. Mary is one of the most passionate and influential voices in Africa’s Bitcoin space.
13
Carla Kirk-Kohen
Co-founder: Qala
Carla Kirk-Kohen is a South African who is doing so much for the Bitcoin space in Africa, She is one of the board members of ₿trust and the Co-founder of Qala, an organization that is training the next generation of African Bitcoin and Lightning developers.
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16
Alexandria the Great
Founder: Proof of Resilience
Alexandria is a contributor to the Money on-chain protocol, Bitcoin Magazine & Global Bitcoin fest. He is the founder of Proof of Resilience a community that is educating African youths by hosting on-campus university events, Bitcoin meetups & the first series of Bitcoin Bootcamp though-out Southern Africa.
17
Oluwasegun Kosemani
Founder: Botmecash
Oluwasegun has contributed to Bitcoin adoption in Africa. He’s currently the Founder/CEO of Botmecash, a Bitcoin-only exchange in Nigeria, Co-Founder and COO of Satoshi’s Journal and works on other Bitcoin projects like the Bitcoin Village, Bitcoin Hotspot, & the Blockchain Bootcamp for kids.
18
Paco De la India
Founder: Run with Bitcoin
Paco de la India is the founder of the Run with Bitcoin tour. Paco set out to travel to 40 countries in 400 days spending only Bitcoin (contributing to places that accept Bitcoin payments for food, accommodation, transport, & gear). Since Paco’s journey, he has united Bitcoiners within cities, in countries, and across borders .
19
Charlene Fadirepo
Founder: Guidefi
Charlene is the Founder of Guidefi, a fintech company that connects women with financial advisors & Bitcoin investing education. She is also the CEO of Mango Digital Strategies, the author of the Bitcoin children’s book Sade’s Satoshis, and a co-author of “Bitcoin and the American Dream”
20
Obi Nwosu
Founder: Fedimint
Obi Nwosu is the CEO of Fedi and a big supporter of initiatives that advance the Bitcoin ecosystem. He is also a board member of ₿trust, an organisation that funds Bitcoin developers in the global south, starting with Africa.
21
Lorraine Marceline
Founder: Bitcoin Dada
Lorraine Marceline is the founder of Bitcoin Dada a safe space where women connect and learn about Bitcoin. She is passionate about shrinking the gender gap in the Bitcoin ecosystem especially in Kenya and Africa.