This is a group for discussing Bitcoin in Kenya!What is a Bitcoin?How do you mine Bitcoins?What are the possible future uses for a decentralized and autonomous currency like Bitcoin?and most importantly what kind of businesses can we create around Bitcoin to help build the Eco-system?All are welcome, please join us!!:-) Log in with Facebook to find out By creating a Meetup account, you agree to the Terms of Service Welcome!Upcoming Suggested Past Calendar Recent Meetups Nov 7, 2016 · 9:00 AM Register for the 2nd Global Hackathon : $50,000 Grand Prize 18 Bitcoiners -ether.camp- launches its Second Global Hacking Event with a $50,000 Grand Prize Kicking off on Monday, November 6th, 2016,  will feature a global five... Learn more Dec 12, 2015 · 9:00 AM Learn Financial Modeling From Industry expert at Nairobi 23 Bitcoiners For all those professionals who work in the finance sector, dealing with huge numbers is a part of their day-to-day job.

It is therefore important for such professionals... Learn more Jul 3, 2015 · 6:00 PM Bitcoin Meetup at iHub 17 Bitcoiners | 4.001 Join entrepreneurs from Bitsoko (Ghana, Kenya) and BitFinance (Zimbabwe) as they share their experience.Come and join us!Let's talk bitcoins and cryptocurrencies in a... Learn more Feb 3, 2015 · 5:30 PM First Bitcoin Nairobi meetup 2015!38 Bitcoiners | 5.005 | 14 Photos Let's kick off 2015 with a bang!2015 will be a BiG year for Bitcoin!Let's talk bitcoins and cryptocurrencies in a fun space,snacks and drinks... Learn more Dec 1, 2014 · 5:00 PM Let's talk about Trading bitcoins!21 Bitcoiners | 4.502 Bitcoin Kenya Meet up - Nairobi by the ADCA [masked] Contact John [masked] Michael [masked] ++ How do I buy and sell bitcoins?++  How to secure your bitcoins and... Learn more What's new More New Member Steve K. joined New Member Victor joined New Member ElderIsaac Mahihu Damiano G. joined New Member Oliver D. joined New Member Jackie N. joined New Member Kamau G. joined New Member NK joined New Member Shwaib joined New Member Adolphus L. joined New Member kennedy O. joined

Following bitcoin's birth in 2009 as a decentralized peer-to-peer payment network with fast transaction speeds and low transaction fees, one of its most predicted future application uses was for international remittance purposes.Many experts envisioned that bitcoin would be a driving force in reducing the costs of international money transfers to developing regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and, thereby, create more financial inclusion for the unbanked.While anticipated bitcoin remittances into Africa have still not taken off at a large scale, Africa has birthed several local Bitcoin economies spread across the continent.In this article, you will be introduced to the state of bitcoin in Kenya to give you an insight into East Africa’s leading bitcoin hub.Kenya is among the four main Bitcoin economies in Africa next to South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.While bitcoin awareness and adoption are growing in many parts of Africa, only the countries mentioned above offer Bitcoin ecosystems that include startups, meetups, a local Bitcoin community, and bitcoin liquidity.

Kenya is the home to several bitcoin startups, regular bitcoin meetups, a blockchain-focused coworking space and accelerator; a population used to making mobile payments, and an increasing demand for bitcoin according to LocalBitcoins trading volumes.You cannot talk about Bitcoin in Kenya without mentioning Kenya’s bitcoin startup poster child BitPesa.BitPesa was launched in 2013 with the aim to provide individuals and business with the opportunity to make low-cost international money transfers to and from Sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging the cryptocurrency bitcoin.diy bitcoin usbBitPesa has so far managed to raise over $6 million from leading blockchain-focused venture capital firms, including Blockchain Capital, Draper Associates, Digital Currency Group, and BitFury Capital, to grow its business and expands into new markets.bitcoin to cad graph

BitPesa currently operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal as well as the UK and can process cross-border payments in over 30 currencies.When BitPesa first started out, it focused on remittances for private individuals but has since changed its business model to focus primarily on B2B cross-border transactions.This decision was partly a result of BitPesa’s quarrel with Kenya’s leading telecoms company Safaricom, which switched off BitPesa’s access to its mobile money platform MPesa that it was using to turn bitcoin remittances into fiat currency for everyday users.bitcoin tgBitPesa went to court against Safaricom to regain access to its mobile money platform but lost the case.ethereum private keyNonetheless, through refocusing its business on B2B cross-border payments and by expanding into other regions in Africa, the BitPesa success story continues, and its recent $2.5 million funding round from January 2017 is a testament to that.bitcoin mexico meetup

Following the BitPesa vs.Safaricom court case in December 2015, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) issued a public warning against buying bitcoin by taking out newspaper ads to inform the public.The notice stated: “virtual currencies such as bitcoin are not legal tender in Kenya and therefore no legal protection exists in the event that the platform that exchanges or hold the virtual currency fails or goes out of business...” The CBK also suggests that the anonymous aspect of bitcoin transactions make them, “...susceptible to abuse by criminals in money laundering and terrorism financing.” Since then, the Kenyan central bank has issued no official guidelines or public clarification on the use of bitcoin and other digital currencies.bitcoin and litecoin calculatorAt a meetup in Nairobi in summer of 2016, a leading member of Kenya’s Bitcoin community stated that the Kenyan Central Bank had informed local banks not to conduct business with bitcoin startups.tao bitcoin address

Existing bitcoin startups have had their bank accounts shut down, making it very challenging for new bitcoin startups to open company bank accounts in Kenya.In 2016, BitHub.Africa launched East Africa’s first bitcoin and blockchain-focused coworking space and startup incubator in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.Former BitPesa employee John Karanja founded BitHub.Africa in 2015 with the aim to become a center of excellence for blockchain technologies in Africa.bitcoin cia nsaBitHub.Africa offers two coworking spaces, an incubator for startups that are looking into developing blockchain-based solutions, and consultancy services for companies interested in learning more about blockchain technology.ethereum enabled websitesThe biggest hindrance for bitcoin adoption in Africa is the low level of internet penetration.Currently, internet penetration in Africa stands at 26.3 percent, but internet connectivity is mainly found in the major cities and is clustered across a few of Africa’s larger economies.

Kenya has the highest internet penetration, 66 percent, in Africa and is also one of the two leading Sub-Saharan countries in internet and telecommunication development next to South Africa.Consequently, the capital Nairobi has turned into a hub for tech startups, dubbed as Silicon Savannah.Furthermore, Kenya is leading Africa in mobile payment adoption with 86 percent of households having mobile money accounts according to McKinsey.While these factors bode for a good breeding ground for bitcoin startups, only a few entrepreneurs are currently leveraging blockchain technology to develop solutions in Kenya.Aside from BitPesa and Bithub.Africa, other Kenyan blockchain startups include Remitano and Umati Blockchain.Regarding merchant adoption, there is little to none in Kenya.According to CoinMap, a platform that collates and lists merchants that accept bitcoin, there are currently only seven vendors accepting bitcoin payments.Two travel agents, two tech companies, and three e-commerce stores.