🟠 America now has a Bitcoin reserve. Will Africa follow?

The U.S. establishes a Bitcoin reserve. Will others follow?

Topline: The U.S. has officially recognized Bitcoin as a strategic asset. Last week, President Trump signed an executive order to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), a government-held BTC stockpile meant for long-term national security and financial stability.

What is the SBR?

• A government-controlled Bitcoin reserve sourced from seized assets.
• Holds approximately 200,000 BTC (~$17 billion), with plans for budget-neutral expansion.
• Functions as a “digital Fort Knox” — a hugely secure, untouchable store of value.
• Reflects a policy shift: Bitcoin is now treated like gold, held indefinitely despite price fluctuations.

What is Fort Knox?

The United States Bullion Depository, commonly called Fort Knox, is a heavily fortified vault housing much of the nation’s gold reserves. It is named after the nearby U.S. Army post and has become a symbol of extreme security.

Bring it home: For African nations, the implications are enormous. If the world’s largest economy sees Bitcoin as a store of value, could this push more African central banks to rethink their stance?

• Would countries like Nigeria and Kenya, already grappling with currency volatility, seek a deeper understanding of this asset class and consider it a compelling reserve diversification tool?

🫧 Oluwaseun’s thought bubble: Back in 2002, I had a long chat with a now-former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria who believed Bitcoin was ultimately at the mercy of the U.S. government, arguing that they could shut down the market by triggering price crashes. Ironically, the new Strategic Bitcoin Reserve suggests the U.S. sees BTC as too valuable to suppress.

But does this move increase or reduce the risk of U.S. market influence? Time will tell.

Trump administration views bitcoin reserve as “digital Fort Knox”

Swiss fintech Centi partners with Yellow Card to expand African reach

Topline:​ Swiss fintech Centi has partnered with pan-African crypto exchange Yellow Card to simplify crypto-powered remittances between Switzerland and 20 African countries. (Details)

Driving the news: According to Centi, the partnership will expand its African presence from eight countries to 20. 

• Swiss users can now convert fiat into crypto using Centi-issued non-custodial wallets, with transfers sent directly to mobile wallets like M-PESA.
• Yellow Card facilitates the crypto-to-cash exchange, enabling recipients to receive funds instantly in local currency with minimal fees.

Why this matters: More global payment companies are partnering with African crypto firms to simplify and expand cross-border remittances.

• Last year, the American crypto exchange Coinbase partnered with Yellow Card to allow African users to go from fiat to crypto and back through its self-custodial wallet platform, Coinbase Wallet. 

Hedera makes strategic investment in stablecoin payments firm, Ivorypay

Topline: Stablecoin payments company Ivorypay has received a strategic investment from Hedera, a decentralized ledger network. (Details)

• This investment will see Ivorypay integrate Hedera’s distributed ledger technology into its platform and admit a Hedera representative to its board of advisors.

The details: When blockchain-affiliated entities invest in a startup, they expect the startup to integrate and promote their network within its products and services.

• Sometimes, investors demand protocol exclusivity so the startup builds solely on their blockchain.
• However, the specifics of this deal are undisclosed, and the company did not respond to requests for comments.
• Ivorypay plans to expand to other African markets, including Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. 

Before now: Ivorypay was part of CV Labs’ blockchain accelerator, securing a $135,000 capital investment in 2023.

Zoom out: As crypto adoption in Africa grows, blockchain ecosystems invest in local startups to integrate their infrastructure.

• Tether also led a $10M round in MANSA, a stablecoin liquidity provider.
• Starknet launched a $4M fund for African blockchain startups.

Lisk’s blockchain incubator graduates 23 startups, opens applications for second cohort

Topline: Ethereum layer-2 protocol Lisk has announced that 23 African startups have completed the first cohort of its Blockchain Incubation Hub program. Applications for the second batch are now open, with the program set to begin on May 19. (Details)

The details: The six-month incubator, backed by Swiss-based CV Labs, aims to empower African blockchain projects.

Notable participants included:

• Tata iMali (South African fintech)
• TrendX (Nigeria-based tokenization platform)
• Afrikabal (Decentralized agricultural marketplace in Rwanda)
• Pokecoin (South Africa-based NFT marketplace)
• Jamit (Decentralized podcast platform)
• Nomachain (Kenya’s blockchain-powered rent-to-own property startup)

Second Cohort: Applications are open until April 12, with the program starting on May 19.

• Lisk will offer up to $20,000 in grants per startup, with a chance to secure $100,000 in additional funding.

Catch up

🇹🇳 Tunisia adopts blockchain-based system for verifying credentials (Mariblock)

🇿🇦 South Africa edges closer to FATF graylist exit (Mariblock)

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s new crypto tax policies may not drive the revenue it needs (CoinTelegraph)

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s Crypto Clampdown: Binance Users Blocked From Crypto Giveaway Programs (Bitcoin.com News)

Opportunities

• VISA opens applications for Cohort 4 of its Africa Fintech Accelerator Program. Deadline: Mar. 25, 2025. (Details)
• African blockchain talent firm Web3Bridge has opened the waitlist for its 13th cohort. Join the waitlist here.
• USAID announces the Women Entrepreneurship Incubator program in Kenya. Apply here.

That’s it for this week.

Until next time, stay informed.

Cheers,

Ogechi.