Consensus is probably one of the largest global events for the Web3 and digital assets industry. The event brings together some of the leading founders, innovators, and companies together to discuss a variety of topics including DeFi, regulation, innovation, and other related topics.
Since 2015, Consensus has been more than an event–it’s the annual gathering of the tribes. It’s where the most influential voices in blockchain, Web3, and AI come together to drive innovation forward.
Consensus 2025 is no different and has attracted some of the leading minds in the industry most notably:
Eric Trump – Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, American Bitcoin
Robert Hines – Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, The White House
Charles Hoskinson – CEO & Founder, Input Output (Cardano)
Kevin O’Leary – Chairman, O’Leary Ventures
Dan Morehead – Founder & CEO, Pantera Capital
Sergey Nazarov – Co-Founder, Chainlink
Chris Pavlovski – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rumble
Anthony Scaramucci – Founder, SkyBridge Capital
Paul Grewal – Chief Legal Officer, Coinbase
Justin Sun – Founder, TRON
Yat Siu – Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands
Anthony Soohoo – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, MoneyGram
Nathan Allman, CEO, Ondo Finance
Buchi Okoro – CEO, Quidax (Nigerian Exchange)
Dr. Leemon Baird – Co-Founder, Hedera
Michael Shaulov – Co-Founder & CEO, Fireblocks
John Wu – President, Ava Labs (Avalanche)
Roham Gharegozlou – CEO & Co-Founder, Dapper Labs
Marta Belcher – President, Filecoin Foundation
Sara Stratoberdha – CEO, CoinDesk
Chris Maurice – CEO, YellowCard (Africa-focussed, non-African Founder)
African Meme Coin, Wakanda Inu ( $WKD), Gets Listed on the Quidax Exchange as Trading Volume Doubles: https://t.co/tWkEBJzecG @QuidaxGlobal @Wakandainu #wakandainu
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) November 11, 2021
The representation of African projects in global Web3 events has been growing, but it still remains disproportionately low compared to other regions like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Here’s a breakdown of the current landscape:
Current Representation of African Web3 Projects
1. Presence at Major Conferences
Underrepresented: At major Web3 events like ETHGlobal, DevCon, Consensus, Token2049, and NFT.NYC, African projects are often under-represented both in speaker lineups and project showcases.
Improving visibility: Some events, such as ETHSafari (Kenya) and Africa Blockchain Week, are emerging with strong regional focus and are beginning to gain recognition in global circles.
Panels vs. Projects: African participants are more frequently featured in diversity or inclusion panels than as leaders of high-profile projects or startups.
[IN PICTURES] #ETHSafari – Showcasing Kenyan Entrepreneurs Building on #Web3
The 7- day conference attracted over 300 participants from over 30 countries https://t.co/qW31yYDQmj @ethereum @VitalikButerin pic.twitter.com/viVbpnfov9
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) September 30, 2022
2. Funding and Startups
Africa receives less than 2% of global Web3 venture funding, though countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana are hotspots.
Projects like Celo (active in mobile finance) and Kotani Pay have gained some international traction.
REPORT | Nigeria’s Web3 Infrastructure Startups Dominated 2024 Nigeria Web3 Funding By Raising $11 Million Out of $20 Million
Much of this was fueled by grants from Layer 1 and Layer 2shttps://t.co/pkCSrFrHsg @HashedEM @QuidaxGlobal @Web3Bridge @InfusionLawyers @ethereum pic.twitter.com/4Ji7lN3srZ
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 15, 2025
3. Developer Representation
According to Electric Capital’s Developer Report (2023), Africa accounts for only a small percentage of global open-source Web3 developers.
However, developer communities like Web3Bridge (Nigeria) and Blockchain Developers DAO are growing fast.
REPORT | 4% of All Blockchain Developers Globally Are in Sub-Saharan Africa, Says 2023 Developer Report
South Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Africa, and Southern Europe collectively gained a 20% share of developers since 2018, emerging as new hubs for crypto… pic.twitter.com/R8aGcXaMxF
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) January 22, 2024
Key Challenges
Infrastructure: Limited access to high-speed internet, payment gateways, and consistent electricity.
Funding gaps: Venture capital firms tend to overlook early-stage African projects due to perceived risk.
Visa issues: Many African developers and founders face travel challenges that limit their participation in global events.
Positive Trends
Local hubs: Cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town are emerging as Web3 innovation hubs.
Youth engagement: Africa has a young, mobile-first population highly receptive to crypto and blockchain.
Diaspora support: African diaspora communities in the U.S. and Europe are helping bridge global networks and funding.
Outlook
African representation in global Web3 events is expected to increase over the next 3–5 years, especially as:
Regional Web3 conferences scale up.
More global partnerships form (e.g., Celo and Cardano)
African-led solutions in DeFi, remittances, and digital identity gain traction globally.
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