Grace Ashiru
A coalition of human rights advocates and technology experts across Africa has launched an ambitious research project to examine the continent’s expanding cryptocurrency adoption, driven by dual objectives of enhancing financial accessibility and providing tools to circumvent authoritarian digital controls.
The newly established Africa Bitcoin Institute operates under the direction of Anaïse Kanimba, whose family history intersects with one of Africa’s most documented humanitarian crises. As the daughter of Paul Rusesabagina—the political activist whose actions during the Rwandan genocide formed the basis of the acclaimed film “Hotel Rwanda”—Kanimba brings both personal understanding of authoritarian oppression and institutional credibility to cryptocurrency advocacy.
The institute has secured backing from prominent organizations including the Human Rights Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, suggesting significant institutional support for African-centered cryptocurrency research initiatives.
Africa’s increasing bitcoin adoption reflects responses to persistent economic challenges that traditional financial systems have struggled to address effectively. Currency instability across multiple African economies has prompted individuals and businesses to seek alternative value preservation mechanisms, with bitcoin emerging as a digital hedge against local monetary volatility.
Cross-border payment complexities present another significant adoption driver, as traditional banking infrastructure often imposes prohibitive costs and lengthy processing times for international transactions. Bitcoin’s borderless nature offers an alternative pathway for remittances and international commerce that bypasses conventional banking limitations.
Rising inflation rates across various African markets have further accelerated interest in bitcoin as a store of value, particularly among populations seeking to protect savings from currency devaluation.
The institute’s formation addresses what Kanimba identifies as a critical knowledge deficit in global cryptocurrency discourse. Speaking to Semafor, she highlighted the problematic dynamic where African policymakers frequently reference international precedents rather than continent-specific evidence when developing digital currency regulations.
“We have a problematic cycle where African policymakers rely on global precedents rather than African realities when crafting digital currency policies,” Kanimba explained, emphasizing the need for locally-generated research and analysis.
The initiative aims to establish a dedicated team focused on producing original research that centers African experiences, data collection methodologies, and leadership perspectives in cryptocurrency policy discussions. This approach represents a departure from externally-generated research that has historically dominated cryptocurrency studies across the continent.
Got a Story to Tell?
Share your journey with TechInAfrica.com and connect with thousands of African founders, investors, venture capitalists, tech leaders, and industry decision-makers. Whether you’re building the next big thing or reshaping the future of tech in Africa, we’ll help you get your story in front of the people who matter.
