South Africa is set to become a focal point for blockchain technology in Africa, hosting two major events in 2025. The Blockchain Africa Conference and Crypto Fest 2025 will showcase the continent’s increasing impact in the crypto space. They represent important milestones, a clear sign of Africa’s evolution from speculation to real-world implementation of blockchain technologies.
Africa continental region ranks first in the world in crypto adoption with an estimated 12% of the population adopting crypto. This amounts to over 40 million active users on the European continent. They are exciting and driving innovative new applications in remittances, financial inclusion, and digital payments. Perhaps none is more representative of this trend than South Africa itself, where an estimated 10% of its population are actively involved in the use of digital currencies.
The 11th edition of the Blockchain Africa Conference will return to Johannesburg on October 30th, 2025. This conference is all about taking the next step with blockchain technology and understanding how it fits into a real-world business application beyond the hype. These critical conversations will explore the role Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) will have in shaping Africa’s growing digital economy. We’ll look at the evolving regulatory landscape in South Africa and how tokenizing real-world assets can help unlock liquidity.
After the conference, looking forward to Crypto Fest! South Africa’s biggest crypto festival comes to Cape Town on Friday, 14 Nov 2025. Crypto Fest 2025 will explore decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain gaming, and strategies for trading and investing in emerging markets.
Africa’s regulatory landscape, especially in countries like South Africa, is starting to take shape. This provides a clearer and more consistent bedrock for sustainable crypto adoption and innovation. In fact, major global corporations like Microsoft, IBM, and JP Morgan have already made the leap. This highlights its growing significance and promise in multiple sectors — from energy to agriculture.
