In an electrifying event in Nairobi, Base hosted builders from across Africa to discuss the future of the on-chain economy, share local success stories, and announce winners of the Based Africa Buildathon.

The event celebrated Africa’s growing role in blockchain and Web3 technologies, and it fostered meaningful connections among developers, entrepreneurs, and blockchain enthusiasts.

With over 750 builders signing up in recent weeks and 280 projects submitted, Africa has established itself as a dynamic force in Web3 innovation. Local developers demonstrated high engagement and creativity, contributing to over 6 million transactions daily and moving billions into the Base economy, underscoring the region’s rising prominence in the global blockchain landscape.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS [DEADLINE: OCTOBER 10 2024] | Base Hackathon Applications Now Open to All Africans with a Prize Pool of 25 $ETH

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Builders are instructed to either build an onchain app that solves a challenge in their… pic.twitter.com/nlv6A1R9gN

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) September 27, 2024

Speakers at the event painted a compelling picture of an internet where creators and users have control over their digital assets, unlike the current model dominated by major corporations. By leveraging decentralized networks, Web3 technology promises to enhance personal agency, enabling content creators to retain ownership and enjoy a more significant share of their profits.

According to core Base blockchain developer lead, Jesse Pollak, the introduction of local stablecoins like the Kenyan Shilling and Nigerian Naira will make digital transactions more accessible, affordable, and secure, allowing users to transact in local currencies seamlessly.

African developers presented tools that simplify user interaction with blockchain, such as ‘smart wallets’ and on-chain kits that help bridge the gap between traditional and on-chain transactions.

Digital literacy remains low, particularly among older demographics. To address this, Base has engaged agents who help users navigate digital payments, allowing them to interact with the on-chain economy even without high technical knowledge. This approach highlights the need for digital literacy initiatives as a key component of expanding blockchain’s reach.

A key highlight of the event was the announcement of the Based Africa Buidathon winners.

The winners were:

  • Base Sessions (Nigeria) – a music group with over 8 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry

  • BasePay (Nigeria) – bringing your bank or mobile money account on-chain with linked addresses

  • The UnBound Project (Nigeria) – connecting SMEs to scalable onchain solutions

  • Azza DeFi (Nigeria) – turning chats to cash outs

  • RideBase (Nigeria) – uses decentralized identity and payments for ride-booking

  • FlexClub (South Africa) – on-chain goal-based savings clubs based on the concept of Stokvels (community-based savings clubs) in South Africa

  • AfroBase (Nigeria) – bringing people on-chain through the vibrant culture and dance of the Yoruba land

  • LendBit (Nigeria) – unlock the full potential of your digital assets with community-driven credit solutions

  • Delar (Nigeria) – decentralized land registry leveraging blockchain technology to create a transparent, secure, and immutable record of land transactions

  • Kombat (Nigeria) – a decentralized platform for wagers and prediction markets

As 2025 approaches, Base plans to expand its support for local stablecoins and developer tools to fuel innovation and lower barriers to entry for new builders.

By fostering an open, decentralized ecosystem, Base envisions a future where on-chain technology creates economic opportunities and promotes financial inclusion across Africa.

 

 

 

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