EVENT | CEO of Nigerian Exchange, Quidax, Calls for Global Collaboration to Boost Africa’s Crypto Ecosystem at Consensus 2025

Buchi Okoro, CEO of Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, Quidax, has issued a compelling appeal to the global crypto community, urging deeper collaboration with local innovators to unlock Africa’s vast potential in the decentralized economy.

Being the only African founder speaking at Coindesk’s flagship event, Consensus 2025, Okoro emphasized that Africa’s crypto growth hinges on strategic partnerships between global stakeholders and local builders. Without such collaboration, he warned, the continent’s crypto promise may remain unrealized.

“In Africa, crypto is not hype; it is hope. Crypto is an opportunity; crypto is freedom,” Okoro said.

“I personally believe that crypto in Africa is one of the greatest expressions of Satoshi’s vision for Bitcoin. I believe Africa is an opportunity. Join us to build the future of Africa—not just the future of crypto in Africa, but the future of Africa.”

Drawing from personal experiences, Okoro painted a vivid picture of how crypto is transforming lives across the continent. For many Africans, he explained, digital assets offer more than financial gain – they provide a lifeline from the grips of inflation, exorbitant remittance costs, and financial exclusion.

This isn’t the first time Quidax and its leadership have been at the center of pan-African crypto discussions. BitKE has regularly highlighted Quidax’s impact on the African crypto space, from pioneering localized trading features to launching educational initiatives aimed at onboarding new users. Okoro himself has previously been featured for his advocacy of regulatory clarity and inclusive growth within Africa’s crypto markets.

According to recent insights from Chainalysis, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to experience some of the fastest growth in global crypto adoption. In 2024, Nigeria ranked second worldwide, with Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia also among the top 30. The region leads globally in DeFi adoption, largely driven by limited access to traditional financial services.

Despite this growth, the region’s share of global crypto transaction volume remains relatively small – just 2.7% in 2024, up modestly from 2.3% the previous year. Okoro argues that this gap underscores the need for more investment, innovation, and collaboration.

In his closing remarks at Consensus 2025, Okoro called on international crypto players to see Africa not just as a market, but as a partner in shaping the global crypto future.

“As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child,” Okoro concluded.

“I believe it will take a village to connect Africa to the rest of the world and that process can start with everyone of us here and together we can build Africa’s future.”