For years I’ve been saying, to anyone who will listen, that Africa will lead global Bitcoin adoption. And that has come to fruition. It was at the Bitcoin 2021 Conference where I shared that same statement on the Nakamoto stage. And here we are, almost one year later and Bitcoin adoption in Africa is still on the rise with reports showing that the market has grown over 1200% with Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria all leading the charge.

Having been born in Egypt and moved to the U.S. with my family at the age of two, I’ve always been passionate about my home continent of Africa. After all, home is home. But my belief that Africa will lead the way stems from more than just my roots. Nearly 60% of the population of Africa are unbanked. Africans are also battling rising inflation and high transaction fees for cross-border payments — so it’s clear that the continent has long been primed for an alternative solution like Bitcoin. It’s these challenges across the continent, coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit of the people, that have allowed Bitcoin to thrive.