The 2nd Unconference: Communities, Innovation, and the spirit of Financial Sovereignty

Highlighting Local Voices and Projects Shaping the Future of Bitcoin in Africa

The 2nd Bitcoin Unconference was held at the Sarit Expo in Nairobi on 12th July 2025. This event came only a few weeks after the first edition rocked the local Bitcoin scene.

Following the trends of its predecessor, the 2nd Bitcoin Unconference was a community driven initiative centered around local builders, educators and innovators. The event showcased different innovative projects offering solutions that are tailored to the needs of local bitcoin users. It also featured graduating classes of different Bitcoin education programs, showing the commitment of over 100 individuals in learning and adopting bitcoin.

The Unconference events by The Core are quickly becoming popular in the Kenyan Bitcoin community for offering a platform that celebrates and empowers local bitcoin innovators

Keynote Highlights

One of the most impactful moments of the 2nd Unconference came from the first keynote speaker, Sabina Gitau, Co-founder Tando. She challenged the audience to adandon a broken and failing system that continues to fail everyday people and increase the cost of living and embrace Bitcoin

Using powerful visuals from last year's youth-led protests in Kenya where thousands took to the streets to demand reduced taxes, Sabina drew sharp connections between financial injustice and the need for a decentralized alternative that respects people's human rights. Her message was clear, bitcoin isn't just a medium for exchange, it's a path toward systemic change.

Fidel Otieno, founder and CEO of Bitika, followed with a practical perspective on Bitcoin's real-world utility. He shared a moving story about building solutions grounded on local realities. Fidel highlighted everyday challenges merchants go through, from suspicious activity flags, sudden account freezes, high currency conversion fees, and long transaction delays, painting a picture of a system stacked against those trying to make a living. But even after all these challenges are tackled, a bigger problem of inflation remains, reducing purchasing power and devaluing hard earned money. He proposed Bitcoin as a way out. It offers freedom in digital form and a way to hold value that nobody can freeze, reverse or question.

Finally, Rosaline Wangui, founder of Bitbiashara, closed the keynote section with the story of Roya Mahboob. Roya is an entreprenuer in Afghanistan who built a company to create job opportunities for newly graduated women in the region where their financial independence was often restricted.

Rosaline highlighted that Roya was constantly facing challenges with frozen accounts, institutional pushbacks, and surveillance, all because of the marginalized group she was working with. The women under her employment were not allowed to have bank acounts, and her ability to pay her employees was severely compromised.

That's until she discovered bitcoin, which allowed her to stabilize her business and pay her women employees directly without cencorship and third party inteference. In an environment hostile to women and innovation, Bitcoin became a tool for resistance, freedom, and dignity.

Rosaline emphasized that stories like Roya's are not just inspiring, they're a glimpse into how Bitcoin can be used as a tool to empower businesses and uplift communities in places where traditional finance fails.

Community Presence

The 2nd Bitcoin Unconference drew a diverse crowd of attendees from seasoned Bitcoin developers and community veterans to new Bitcoin course graduates and newcomers eager to learn. Attendees at the Unconference represented a wide range of nationalities, spanning across Africa, Europe, and the Americas

Panels

The 2nd Bitcoin Unconference hosted three standout panel discussions that brought structured depth to some of the most pressing questions facing the African Bitcoin ecosystem.

The first, "Bitcoin's Economic Reboot in the global south," brought together developers, economists, and innovators to unpack the practical realities of adopting Bitcoin in economically strained regions. Panelists explored how Bitcoin can act as a hedge against inflation, a tool for cross-border trade, and a viable alternative to weak or extractive financial institutions.

The second panel, "How Bitcoin Education is shaping Adoption and Empowerment," spotlighted the impactful work of educators and grassroots Bitcoin education programs across the continent. The discussion emphasized that knowledge is the true infrastructure behind sustainable adoption. Panelists highlighted how culturally relevant, local-language education not only increases understanding, but also builds trust in a system that often feels foreign or intimidating.

The final panel, "Building Bitcoin Circular Economies from the Ground Up," focused on real-world examples of peer-to-peer Bitcoin usage in Kenyan communities. Panelists shared what it takes to cultivate trust, teach self-custody, and create communities where Bitcoin isn't just bought but used, earned, and saved daily.

What made these panels especially powerful wasn't just the expertise but their relevance. Panelists spoke directly to the lived experiences of the audience, touching on inflation, trust gaps in institutions, and the urgency of local-language education. These weren't theoretical debates but strategy sessions of the people actually building and using Bitcoin everyday.

Projects Showcased: Builders in Focus

The Core

The Core is a Bitcoin educational platform offering free online and offline learning experiences to individuals across Africa and beyond. With a mission to increase awareness and adoption, The Core focuses on making Bitcoin knowledge accessible through simplified content, localized education, and strong community-building. By combining eeducation, content-creation, and grassroots outreach, they're helping bridge thee gap between interest and real-world usage.

As the host of the 2nd Bitcoin Unconference, they created a space for collaboration, learning, and grassroots innovation.

During the event, their 7th cohort graduated 111 students, marking a major milestone in their mission to equip more Africans with Bitcoin knoowledge and tools for financial empowerment.

Afribit

Afribit is focused on emowering underserved communities through Bitcoin education and practical tools that support financial inclusion. Their Kibera Circular Economy initiative uses Bitcoin and the Lightning Network to enable unbanked residents to participate in a local, decentralized economy.

Bitsavers Eduhub

Bitsavers Eduhub is a youth-focused initiative helping African students and graduates gain financial literacy through Bitcoin Education. Powered by Africa Students for Liberty, the program teaches saving strategies like Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) and promotes financial independence. Now in its second cohort, Bitsavers has reached learners across 11 countries through gamified lessons, mentorship, and grassroots learning.

During the 2nd Bitcoin Unconference, 35 students graduated from Bitsavers, equipped with tools to navigate inflation and build financial resilience ina changing world.

Tando

Tando is a mobile app that makes it easy to use Bitcoin as a means of payment wharever M-Pesa is accepted. It allows users to send BTC directly to any Kenyan phone number, with recipients receiving the equivalent in Kenyan shillings with no app or Bitcoin wallet required on their end. Tando maintains user privacy while enabling seamless, real-world Bitcoin spending at local shops, bridging the gap between bitcoin and everyday commerce.

Bitcoin Babies

Bitcoin Babies is a foundation focused on empowering mothers, especially in underserved communities, through a uniques blend of maternal health education, financial literacy, and Bitcoin inclusion. By combining essential knowledge on infant care and nutrition with tools for financial independence, the project helps mothers become confident, self-sufficient caregivers capable of securing both their childern's well-being and financial futures.

BitBiashara

BitBiashara is a Bitcoin startup dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to integrate Bitcoin into their businesses. The platform helps business owners boost financial independence, streamline operations, and embrace innovative financial solutions tailored to Africa's dynamic economic landscape. BitBiashara will soon launch a marketplace for faster onboarding for entrepreneurs.

Bitika

Bitika is a user-friendly Bitcoin platform built for everyday Kenyans. Designed with simplicity in mind, Bitika makes it possible to convert Kenyan shillings into Bitcoin via M-pesa in just three steps, with no complex trading interfaces or technical jargon.

Whether you're a student, a mama mboga, or a boda rider, you can start owning Bitcoin with as little as 50 shillings. By using the Bitcoin Lightning Network and priotizing accessibility, Bitika is putting financial empowerment in the hands of even the lowest-income earners.

Satoshi 53

Satoshi53 is a Bitcoin leadership initiative dedicated to developing sovereign thinkers equipped to lead in a decentralized world. Rooted in the philosophy of Proof of Work, the program trains African leaders, educators, and innovators to understand and teach Bitcoin from both a technical and human-centered perspective. During the event, 10 students graduated from their first cohort.

Other featured projects included Bitcoin Kaka, Bitcoin Chama, The Creative Bitcoiner(s), Ecobitz, and the Beyond Adversity Podcast, each contributing uniquely to Bitcoin education, stotytelling, and community empowerment across Africa. Together, they reflect the growing diversity and creativity of the continent's Bitcoin ecosystem.

Sponsors & Partners

The 2nd Bitcoin Unconference was made possible through the generous support of sponsors and partners committed to advancing Bitcoin adoption in Africa. Leading the way was The Core, the host and organizing force behind the event. They were joined by Blink, Tando, Bitcoin Arusha, Smart Guy Consulting, and Afribit Kibera. They all played a vital role in powering conversations, connections, and community-driven innovation throughtout the unconference.

The movement is Just Getting Started

The 2nd Bitcoin Unconference wasn't just an event, it was a statement. A reminder that Bitcoin in Africa is alive, growing, and being shaped by the people who need it the most. From grassroots builders to first-time learners, the conversations sparked here will ripple far beyond the venue.

To stay connected and support this growing movement, follow The Core on X for updates, resources, and future events. You can also watch the full unconference on The Core's YouTube channel and catch the energy, ideas, and powerful stories that made this gathering unforgettable.

Written by: Stacy Angella

For partnership or press inquiries, contact The Core via X or on their official website.