By Bitcoin Часопіс - 6 месяцы таму - Час чытання: 14 хвіліны
Афрыка: новая зямля вольных
I write this article as a resident of New York City, home of the Statue of Liberty, one of the most widely recognized symbols of America — the “land of the free”.
Але, калі справа даходзіць да Bitcoin, I don’t feel so free as a New Yorker.
New York State (NYS) is one of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the world in regard to Bitcoin. Since 2015, NYS has required companies that deal in the virtual currency marketplace to obtain a "BitLicense" in order to do business in the state. This license is both difficult and expensive to acquire. Bitcoin-only exchanges like River and Swan as well as long-standing, reputable crypto exchanges like Kraken cannot serve residents of NYS because they do not have BitLicenses (for Swan, some NYS residents are grandfathered in from a time when Swan was permitted to operate in NYS, but the exchange is no longer allowed to enroll new New York residents). And Strike, a bitcoin payment app, as well as Ledn, a bitcoin borrowing and lending platform, are not permitted to serve NYS residents either.
As if the BitLicense wasn’t an offensive enough roadblock in the state that is home to New York City — often purported to be the financial hub of the world — NYS’s current governor, Kathy Hochul, has pushed to make NYS even more unfriendly to Bitcoin. In November 2022, she signed a law забараняючы Bitcoin горназдабыўныя кампаніі that don’t use 100% renewable resources from operating in the state for two years.
Каб вадзіць home the point about New York’s stance on Bitcoin, look no further than the words of the state’s Attorney General, Letitia James.
крыніца(At the very least, she could have differentiated between bitcoin and all other digital assets.)
NYS authorities seem to be doing everything in their power to protect the old financial guard — Wall Street — pushing Bitcoin-related exchanges and start-ups out of NYS.
To say it’s disappointing to be a Bitcoin enthusiast living in New York is an understatement.
I feel inspired and hopeful, though, when I look beyond the state lines of New York, and even beyond the borders of the United States, to Africa, where the youth are passionate about promoting greater Bitcoin прыняцце.
On my podcast, new renaissance capital, I interview Bitcoin educators, entrepreneurs and thought leaders mostly based in The Global South.
Whenever I speak with guests from Africa, I get the feeling that they’re willing to push for greater Bitcoin adoption in their country (and on the continent at large) — whether their government is currently open to the idea or not.
Africans in particular have a certain sense of stoicism in their approach to Bitcoin. They’re on a mission to further the adoption of what Alex Gladstein termed “post-colonial money” in his book Check Your Financial Privilege: Inside the Global Bitcoin Рэвалюцыя.
So, in this piece, I’d like to highlight some key segments of conversations I’ve had with African Bitcoiners, people who I believe future generations will look back at and thank for the work they’re doing now to make Africans freer and more self-sovereign.
Пачнем з паўднёва-заходняй ускраіны кантынента.
Намібія
Nikolai “OKIN” Tjongarero, founder of EasySats, a company that makes it easy and cheap for Namibians to acquire bitcoin, has been doing his part to convince the powers that be in Namibia of Bitcoin’s value. He’s even orange-pilled members of the Bank of Namibia, the country’s central bank.
When higher-ups at the bank reached out to a burger joint that OKIN had recently convinced to accept bitcoin as a form of payment and requested to meet with OKIN at the restaurant, OKIN happily (though with a bit of trepidation) obliged.
“I don’t think they were there to try to catch anybody,” says OKIN of the 15 central bankers that showed up to the meeting. “They were like ‘Show us how we can buy burgers [with bitcoin].’”
After learning that most of the bankers didn’t know the difference between a custodial wallet and a non-custodial wallet, OKIN taught them how to transfer their bitcoin from their Coinbase exchange wallet to a Muun Wallet. Once the bankers were set up with Muun, they went to town and spent over 6,000 Namibian dollars (US$323) worth of bitcoin on burgers and beers before the meeting was through.
“This was just to see how they could spend their bitcoin,” states OKIN, who added that most of them “didn’t know what [they] could do with this thing (Bitcoin)… People are telling [them] that [they] can’t do anything with it, [that] it’s just magic internet money.”
But after that encounter with OKIN, their perspective had begun to shift, and they actually consulted OKIN for their research on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC). To highlight the risks of surveillance and centralized control associated with CBDCs, OKIN pointed to the failure of the eNaira, a CBDC in Nigeria, the first African country to launch one. He pointed out in his commentary to the central bank that only 1% of Nigerians were using the eNaira while 50% were using some form of cryptocurrency, mainly bitcoin.
Having spent some time in Namibia myself, this story wasn’t so surprising. During my time in the country, I noticed how accessible both high-ranking members of institutions and politicians were. When I suggested that the accessibility of authorities in the country might be a plus when it comes to Bitcoin getting its fair shot in Namibia, OKIN agreed.
«Кожны асоба; палітык усё ж чалавек», — кажа ОКІН. «Гэта не тое, што [гэтыя] людзі знаходзяцца за агароджаным садам — не ў Намібіі».
While the Namibian authorities are considering greater Bitcoin adoption, everyday Namibians remain free to use it at their own risk, to pay for goods and services with it if they so please.
Now, let’s go next door — to South Africa — to see how Bitcoin is improving lives in the country.
Паўднёвая Афрыка
Luthando Ndabambi, a leader in the Bitcoin Экасі community, is living proof of how bitcoin is beginning to break South Africans free from the shackles of poverty.
"Bitcoin changed[d] my life,” shares Ndabambi, a Black South African born into apartheid. “I was living [in] a shack where [when] it’s raining, I had to move [my] bed at night because the rain was getting inside the shack. But my life now has really changed because I’m living [in] a proper house now — because of Bitcoin».
Not only has saving in bitcoin allowed Ndabambi to upgrade his physical living conditions, but it altered his behavior for the better, as well.
“I was drinking a lot; I was not thinking about [the] future,” explains Ndabambi. “After I [began] working for Bitcoin Ekasi, my life change[d] completely. I’m thinking different[ly] than before. I don’t care about parties. I just focus on my girlfriend and my son, and my family, as well. But I don’t care about other thing[s] like wasting my money. I always think, ‘If I go to the club, I’m going to eat (spend) a lot of money… No, do not go just to waste money.’ I have to use my money [for] something that’s going to change my life a lot.”
Ndabambi is the embodiment of the idea that "Bitcoin is hope”. And this sort of hope is rare to find in Black South Africans who grew up in townships both during and post-apartheid according to Hermann Vivier, founder of Bitcoin Ekasi and Bitcoin Часопіс удзельнік.
Калі я сустрэў Вів'е ў Нью-Ёрку і сеў з ім на паром з паўднёвай ускраіны Манхэтэна на невялікую выспу, на якой знаходзіцца Статуя Свабоды, Вів'е растлумачыў мне, што апартэід нанёс значна большую шкоду небелым паўднёваафрыканцам, чым можна вымераць. «Гэта было распрацавана, каб зламаць настрой і ўсяліць безнадзейнасць», — кажа Вівье.
He then explained to me how Ndabambi has become a model for those in his community, as Ndabambi has worked hard to complete tasks and assume responsibilities that he otherwise might not have if he didn’t truly believe that the future could be brighter — in large part because of Bitcoin.
Now, let’s head over to West Africa to hear from a Ghanaian who’s doing everything in his power to usher in a brighter future for Ghana with Bitcoin.
Гана
Kumi Nkansah, journalist by trade and founder of the Bitcoin educational group the Bitcoin Каўры, has been doing his part to orange-pill not only as many everyday Ghanians as possible but also members of the Ghanaian government.
“I got called into a very high-ranking office in the government to come and talk about Bitcoin,” shares Nkansah. “This is what they said to me: Keep on — learn as much as you can. Once we are ready, we’ll call you again [and] you will come and help us make certain decisions when it comes to Bitcoin. We like what you’re doing. Keep up with it.”
Nkansah explained that politicians in Ghana are open to the idea of Bitcoin because “they can feel the inflation; they can feel how they are losing money (purchasing power), so they are trying to find alternatives.”
Яго ўзаемадзеянне з членам парламента (MoP) было асабліва натхняльным.
"Я патэлефанаваў адным дэпутатам парламента", - пачынае Нканса. "Яго родны брат на самай справе прыйшоў у Акадэмію Трэзора (мерапрыемства, якое праводзіла Кумі), і я даў яму кашалёк. So, he took the hardware wallet and showed [it] to this member of parliament. And then I got called to explain what it is and how they can use it.”
Па словах Нкансаха, вось як прайшла размова паміж ім і гэтым членам парламента:
Нканса: «Сэр, ці ведаеце вы, што ў наступным годзе ў ЗША будуць выбары?»
MoP: «Так».
Nkansah: “Did you know three of the presidential candidates are accepting bitcoin payments [for donations for their campaigns]?”
MoP: «Няўжо?!»
Nkansah: “Yes, they are. Where do we borrow money from? Is it not the US? So, if these guys who want to be president are telling US citizens how they’re going to use Bitcoin to transform the economy and we are not learning more, and at the end of the day we’re going to borrow money from these same people, what are we doing to ourselves? We better start learning about Bitcoin».
MoP: «Гэй, джэнтльмен, вы мяне проста шакавалі. Я збіраюся даведацца пра гэта больш - але вы павінны даведацца больш, каб, калі прыйдзе час, вы навучылі нас, што мы павінны рабіць ".
Nkansah went on to explain how while some members of the Ghanaian government attended the first African Bitcoin Conference, which took place in Ghana last year, even more will attend this year in efforts to keep learning. And this education is sorely needed as Ghana is being pressured by the IMF to implement a CBDC.
“One of the IMF’s conditions is for governments to leverage on CBDCs,” explains Nkansah. “But if they (Ghanaian government officials) should come and learn about the real difference between Bitcoin and CBDCs, they would actually figure out the best way to go about it — rather than doing what the IMF is saying.”
Мы можам толькі спадзявацца, што ўлады ў Гане працягваюць прытрымлівацца прыкладу Нкансы.
Зараз давайце адправімся ва Усходнюю Афрыку, каб пачуць ад кагосьці яшчэ, хто мае вуха членаў іх урада.
Эфіопія
Kal Kassa, founder of Bitcoin Birr, an open-sourced Bitcoin educational platform and Bitcoin Часопіс удзельнік, is a native Ethiopian with American citizenship who has received permission from the Ethiopian government to educate the country’s citizens about Bitcoin — despite the fact that it’s technically illegal to hold the asset within the country’s borders.
“Members of the government on an individual basis have been helpful in terms of giving me some sort of platform, giving me the ability to speak to audiences,” explains Kassa. “We have a defragmented or decentralized way of governing, so if you were to ask 15 ministers [about Bitcoin], you’re going to get 15 different responses. It’s not going to come from the institution or the agency or the office, but it’s going to come from that individual — and I’m sure they’re holding it (bitcoin) on their private books. There has been some good progress, but just nothing on an official basis.”
Kassa went on to discuss how people who hold and use bitcoin do so in a legal grey area, which sounded less ominous than what he wrote in an article he penned for Bitcoin Часопіс пад назвай "The Marathon: Ethiopia and Bitcoin».
«Нават калі рэгулюючыя органы і праваахоўнікі выкарыстоўваюць палкі пераканання, грамадзяне смела адпраўляюць і складаюць саты», — напісаў Каса. «Калі вы думалі, што мэнэджэры фондаў з лазернымі вачыма на Захадзе аптымістычныя, вы не сустракалі 23-гадовых эфіёпскіх фрылансераў, якія вядуць цалкам алічбаваныя праекты (ад закупак да заключэння кантрактаў і выстаўлення рахункаў) з выкарыстаннем прыкладанняў і кашалькоў Lightning з адкрытым зыходным кодам ўзроўню 2. Якімі б сціплымі ні былі гэтыя транзакцыі, гэтыя дзеці ідуць на вялікую рызыку, каб выканаць свае асноўныя правы на непадробленыя грошы і суверэнную каштоўнасць».
But based on what Kassa is saying now combined with the fact that, according to Kassa, no one in the country has been prosecuted for using or holding bitcoin, it doesn’t seem that Ethiopian Bitcoiners have much to fear.
Kassa explained that because there’s been no prosecution for using Bitcoin and therefore no legal precedent set, most are simply following what the National Bank of Ethiopia has stated, which is that Bitcoin isn’t legal tender and that any losses sustained while using the asset are beyond what the bank can cover.
Аналагічная сітуацыя і ў суседняй з Эфіопіяй Кеніі.
Кенія
Master Guantai, founder of Bitcoin Mtaani, a platform that educates Kenyans about Bitcoin in multiple African national languages, explains that Kenyans are essentially free to use Bitcoin at their own risk, as per the Central Bank of Kenya.
“In Kenya, [according to the] government and central bank, Bitcoin is not a currency,” states Master Guantai, who also added that the messaging from Kenyan authorities around bitcoin is “use it at your own risk; do your own thing.”
He did add, though, that further legislation around Bitcoin is likely on the way but that there’s little chance it would hinder adoption.
"У прынцыпе, усе афрыканскія краіны толькі чакаюць, калі Амерыка прынясе закон, і тады яны скапіруюць пасту [гэта] з некаторымі правак", - тлумачыць ён. "Такім чынам, амерыканскі [закон] або еўрапейскі [закон] - той, хто гэта робіць у першую чаргу - стварыць [стварыць] шаблон, які будзе задаваць тон таго, наколькі жорсткім і наколькі мяккім будзе кенійскі ўрад [будзе]".
When I asked Master Guantai if he was worried that the Kenyan government might adopt bad or anti-Bitcoin legislation from the United States, he responded with a clear “No”.
«Кенійцы, у нас ёсць спосаб прымусіць наш урад прыслухоўвацца да нас, нават калі з дапамогай сілы - асабліва ў Twitter», - тлумачыць ён. «Кенійцы ў Twitter - гэта зусім не жарты. Калі нешта не ў добрым гусце ці што-небудзь яшчэ, гэта [атрымліваецца] непрапарцыйным да такой ступені, што нават наш уласны прэзідэнт не можа ігнараваць гэта. Ён павінен вырашыць гэта, калі гэта стане цэлым. Асноўная задача дзяржавы - клопат пра моладзь. Урад не хоча чуць, як моладзь кажа: «Вы прымаеце гэты негатыўны закон, і ў нас ужо няма працы [хоць] мы адукаваныя; гэта як быццам вы блакуеце нам магчымасці злева, справа і ў цэнтры». Улічваючы гэта, я магу сказаць, што не хвалююся».
Marcel Lorraine, founder of Bitcoin Тата, an organization that educates African women about Bitcoin, doesn’t seem worried either, especially since Kenya is such a tech-friendly country.
“Kenya has established itself as a pro-technology nation, earning the nickname ‘Silicon Savannah’ for its vibrant tech ecosystem,” shares Lorraine. “The country's government has actively promoted technology adoption through initiatives like mobile money pioneer M-Pesa, digital literacy programs, and e-government services. Kenya boasts a burgeoning startup scene, tech hubs, and research institutions, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Lorraine explains that especially because of Kenya’s work in implementing M-Pesa, a mobile money service created to increase financial inclusion in Kenya and other African nations, it should be open to the idea of Bitcoin.
“Kenya's leadership in peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions through technologies like M-Pesa offers an interesting connection to cryptocurrencies,” explains Lorraine. “Some Kenyan individuals and businesses have started exploring cryptocurrencies [like bitcoin] as an alternative to traditional financial services, particularly for cross-border transactions and as a крама каштоўнасці».
After hearing these words from Master Guantai and Marcel Lorraine, it’s hard to imagine the Kenyan government or central bank wanting to cut off everyday Kenyans from the type of empowerment and financial autonomy that Bitcoin прапаноўвае.
Давайце зробім апошні прыпынак ва Усходняй Афрыцы, перш чым скончыць.
Танзанія
While the Bank of Tanzania, the country’s central bank, issued a one-page statement in 2019 about the dangers of cryptocurrencies and the fact that they aren’t considered legal tender in Tanzania, this hasn’t stopped trailblazers like Man Like Kweks from promoting greater Bitcoin усынаўленне ў краіне.
Man Like Kweks, a teacher by trade and a музыка, recently summitted Mount Kilimanjaro with the help of the over 5 million Sats he raised via Geyser Fund in efforts to bring attention to and raise funds for his new Bitcoin education program: POWA (Proof of Work Academy).
“There’s been many different projects that have been funded by bitcoin, [and] I want[ed] to put Tanzania on the map,” explains Man Like Kweks. “I was just very blessed that my network in the Bitcoin and Nostr community was enough to get enough traction to climb it (Mount Kilimanjaro).”
А што тычыцца натхнення для назвы яго акадэміі:
«На суахілі прывітанне гучыць як «мамба», а потым у адказ «пава», [што азначае] «усё крута», — тлумачыць ён. «[POWA] нацэлена на моладзь. Звязваючы гэта з «Пацвярджэннем працы», я проста хацеў зрабіць нешта крутое і свежае, і назваўшы гэта акадэміяй, усё проста спрацавала».
It definitely did work, and things will likely continue to be very cool for the Tanzanian youth if they can follow Man Like Kweks’ lead and leverage the global Bitcoin community to help elevate their creative efforts.
Перадача факела Афрыцы
Такім чынам, зараз у вас можа быць лепшае ўяўленне пра тое, чаму я крыху зайздрошчу таму, што я бачу ў некаторых афрыканскіх юрысдыкцыях у параўнанні з тым, у якім я жыву.
У той час як New York continues to be inhospitable to Bitcoin кампаніі, Africans are taking the bull by the horns and forging ahead fearlessly, working to create a future buoyed by a network on which users can transact permissionlessly with the hardest asset humanity has ever known.
Калі б Лэдзі Свабода магла, я ўпэўнены, што яна пераплыла б Атлантыку і ўручыла афрыканцам свой факел, папрасіўшы іх бегчы з ім, таму што словы Кала Касы: «Эфіопія, мы краіна бедных, маладых мас. Дайце ім кампутар і нейкую мэта in New York, or the US more broadly.
Godspeed, Africa, and I’ll see you at the African Bitcoin Conference in Ghana in December.
Гэта гасцявое паведамленне ад Фрэнк Корва. Выказаныя меркаванні цалкам з'яўляюцца іх уласнымі і не абавязкова адлюстроўваюць меркаванні BTC Inc або Bitcoin Часопіс.
Арыгінальны крыніца: Bitcoin Часопіс