Top Global Blockchain Experts Head To South Africa
For some, blockchain is a word they hear thrown around from time to time, but they don’t have a clue what it all means.
For others, blockchain represents an incredible chance to shake things up, thanks to the opportunities offered by digital currencies and blockchain technology.
If you fall into that latter category, you should already have heard about the annual Blockchain Africa Conferences, the first of their kind in Africa, which is now entering its fifth year.
A blockchain, originally block chain, is a growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data (generally represented as a merkle tree root hash). By design, a blockchain is resistant to modification of the data. It is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.
To date, they’ve hosted four highly successful and sold-out blockchain conferences in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and have attracted big names such as Vinny Lingham (well-known South African entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Gyft and Civic in the US), Brock Pierce (Founder of Block Capital and early adopter of bitcoin in the US), Andreas M. Antonopoulos (author of several bitcoin and Ethereum books), William Frentzen (Federal Prosecutor with the US Attorney’s Office) and Stefan Thomas (CTO of Ripple in the US).
The annual Blockchain Africa Conferences have attracted international experts and thought leaders in the blockchain arena.
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These great minds have shared their insights around blockchain technology’s opportunities and challenges, as well as the latest trends seen around the world. The conferences have also provided a platform for attendees to network with like-minded individuals and learn about some of the most interesting blockchain use cases from a range of innovative companies and start-ups.
The African continent has massive challenges with transactions and doing business that, with the help of blockchain technology, can be transformed into simpler and more efficient ways of working. The Blockchain Africa Conference 2019 will focus on moving Africa forward with the technology. It will discuss how blockchain can simplify systems and processes to lower costs, reduce fraud, become highly secure and transparent, and remove human error and inefficiencies.
There will be two conferences next year – one in Johannesburg from February 28 through to March 1, and another in Cape Town on March 6.
Tickets for both conferences are still available, ranging from the Start-Up Ticket through to the Executive Ticket. In addition, sponsorship opportunities still exist, should your business wish to join the likes of Rand Merchant Bank and Luno.
Luno’s co-founder and CEO, Marcus Swanepoel, will also be speaking at the Cape Town conference.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more authoritative voice on the matter than Marcus. Before co-founding Luno, Marcus worked for Standard Chartered in Singapore, and 3i and Morgan Stanley in London. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and CFA charter holder.
You can stay up to speed with all the latest event news on the 2019 Blockchain Africa Conference Facebook page, and find the full line-up of confirmed speakers and ticket pricing details on the event’s site.
Written by Jasmine Stone
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
