Bitcoin Payments in Africa: Culture, Usability, and the Path to Real Adoption

Bitcoin Payments in Africa: A Different Reality

Bitcoin has been circling African markets for years. The interest is real. The need is real. But somewhere between the technology and the people who need it most, something keeps getting lost.

At the Africa Bitcoin Conference 2025, a panel session on Bitcoin payments in Africa featured two builders, who sat down with moderator Danny Knowles from What Bitcoin Did Podcast for an honest conversation about what is actually happening on the ground. Balogun Malik, founder of Citrusrate, and Emmanuel Kufre of Blink DeFi shared what they have seen working in the space, and more importantly, what keeps going wrong.

What came out of that conversation was not a pitch for a new product. It was a clear‑eyed look at why Bitcoin keeps missing the mark in African markets, and what it would take to change that.

Opening Context: Observations from Kenya and the West

Danny Knowles opened the discussion by sharing observations from Kenya, where mobile money platforms like Tando are widely used for everyday transactions. He noted that people use Tando seamlessly to buy goods and pay for services.

Drawing from his background in England, Australia, and the United States, including extensive podcasting experience, he highlighted the contrast between building Bitcoin payment infrastructure in Western countries and building it in Africa.

He then asked about the unique challenges faced when building Bitcoin payment systems, particularly in comparison to the West.

Culture as the Core Challenge

Emmanuel Kufre explained that one of the biggest challenges is culture, especially money culture. He stated that African societies have a different relationship with money compared to Western countries, and this difference significantly affects how Bitcoin software should be built.

He further noted that many Bitcoin products fail because they are not designed with local realities in mind.

According to him, most UX and UI designers build from their own cultural perspective, attempting to fit Bitcoin into their personal understanding of money. As a result, products copied from the West are introduced into African contexts where they do not fit, creating usability problems.

Localization Is Essential for Bitcoin Adoption

Balogun Malik emphasized the importance of localization. He stated that Bitcoin needs to be localized using terms, systems, and experiences people are already familiar with.

He explained that while many people come across Bitcoin, the technology behind it often pushes them away. According to him, the focus should be on simplifying onboarding, sending, and receiving transactions rather than introducing entirely new systems.

Bitcoin applications should resemble existing mobile applications that locals already understand and trust.

Accessibility and Everyday Use

When asked about use cases in Nigeria, Balogun Malik noted that several applications already exist and are relatively easy to use. However, he pointed out that many of these applications are still too technical for the average user.

He gave the example of his mother, stating that if someone like her cannot use these applications, then they are not yet accessible enough.

He added that applications should be designed for the average merchant, making it easy for people in that position to save and transact. Bitcoin, he stressed, should be set up in the simplest way possible.

Store of Value vs. Medium of Exchange

Danny Knowles shared further observations from Nairobi, Kenya, where many people view Bitcoin primarily as a store of value. He suggested that this may be because many people struggle to save, as most of their income goes toward daily needs.

As a result, Bitcoin should first be noticed as a medium of transaction before later being understood as a store of value.

Emmanuel Kufre agreed with Danny’s point, stating that Bitcoin is indeed a store of value, but mindset plays a major role in the African context.

He explained that many people see Bitcoin mainly as an investment asset. Because of this, they focus on negative aspects such as volatility and become more concerned with protecting what they already have.

He emphasized the need to change this mindset, shifting from viewing Bitcoin purely as an investment asset to seeing it as money first and then as a store of value.

CBDCs and Financial Control in Nigeria

On the topic of CBDCs in Nigeria, Malik stated that the CBDC was rejected because it represented government control. He explained that Africans generally do not want their money to be controlled and that the eNaira project failed because it did not align with people’s expectations of financial freedom.

Opportunities: Power, Creativity, and Entertainment

When asked about opportunities in Africa, particularly Nigeria, Emmanuel Kufre stated that the opportunity lies in giving power back to the people. He explained that when people hold Bitcoin, they are able to challenge existing systems without fear of losing their money.

Balogun Malik added that Nigeria is widely known for entertainment and creativity. He suggested integrating Bitcoin into the entertainment industry, either through payments or by building applications similar to Spotify, where creators can receive gifts or rewards in sats.

He concluded by stating that Bitcoin addresses three major issues: currency, store of value, and freedom money.

Closing Thoughts

The session highlighted that Bitcoin adoption in Africa is not solely a technical challenge but a cultural and usability issue. Designing Bitcoin products that align with local realities, simplify user experience, and respect people’s desire for financial control is critical to sustainable adoption.