This is an editorial opinion by Kal Kassa, an Ethiopian Bitcoiner.
2022 is an exciting year for the global Bitcoin community, and especially African Bitcoiners. With a much younger population than many other continents, Africa’s 54 countries are growing for Bitcoin with a large arsenal of educators, advocates and developers.
As we look forward to the future of what can be done with the country’s money, especially in the areas of the world that can benefit the most, it is useful to check some news and highlights coming from Ethiopia, a country that can be one of the leaders in the adoption of Bitcoin and innovation in the coming years.
First trimester
- Bitcoin Magazine published “Pressed by the World Superpowers, Ethiopia Must Turn to Bitcoin” by Project Mano as inflation figures for the nation came to 35.1% and 41.6% for food inflation.
- Yilak Kidane open a full Bitcoin node using Raspberry Pi 4 and live stream the process from Addis Ababa.
- Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, encouraged the country’s institutional bankers to research innovative technologies “like cryptocurrencies.” The comments were made at the inaugural celebration for the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia at its headquarters building.
- Ethiopians inaugurate a large hydroelectric projectEthiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), is the first turbine to start producing energy in a project expected to use 6,450 megawatts of energy.
- An introductory class titled “Bitcoin 101” was held in Addis Ababa in an effort to increase education and adoption. The class is inspired by books from Bitcoin-focused authors like Jimmy Song, Andreas Antonopoulos and Saifedean Ammous.
Quarter II
Third Quarter
Fourth quarter
- Dr. Yinager Dessie, the governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), stated that 391 individual bank accounts across the country have been frozen. Bitcoin Magazine covered the news in a live show, episode 178, to defend peaceful delivery methods like Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.
- Paco from India (aka, Open With Bitcoin) traveled to various cities in Ethiopia to spend time with early adopters and merchants who accept bitcoin. India also held a Bitcoin meetup in Addis Ababa, sharing sats (a number of bitcoin fractions) with more than a dozen participants.
- Fedi’s Obi Nwosu discusses Ethiopia and energy production at the “Emerging Markets And Bitcoin” panel at Bitcoin Amsterdam 2022. Bloomberg reports that “Ethiopia Has Started Exporting Electricity to Neighboring Kenya” on the news that the government-owned Ethiopian Electric Power has successfully tested a line new transmission.
- The Green Africa Mining Alliance (GAMA) was launched at the first African Bitcoin Conference in Accra, Ghana, while the Built With Bitcoin Foundation inaugurated a new Bitcoin education center in Kumasi, Ghana.
- Strike and Bitnob announced a partnership that allows more remittance services in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana to work on the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Gridless raised $2 million from Stillmark and Block, Inc. to finance bitcoin mining ventures in East Africa.
In 2023, I am full of optimism. Bitcoin is a powerful tool unlike any money the world has ever seen. And like a powerful tool, it needs to be careful and responsible. Stay humble, sit down and have a beautiful new year!
This is a guest post by Kal Kassa. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.