BitKE

Tunisia is set to witness the first Hedera hackathon which will take place between Janauary 26-28 2024.
The hackathon is a collaborative effort between the following entities:
Dar Blockchain – Tunisian Web3 company and a pionner of the blockchain space in the country
The Hashgraph Association (H

African crypto communities on Telegram surged by 189% in 2023, with over 3 million users. Driven by a young population, economic instability, and limited banking access, predictions suggest 54 million users by 2025, with Nigeria and South Africa leading. Telegram plays a vital role in promoting crypto adoption.

Janngo Capital has closed its second fund at €73 million, supported by major investors like AfDB and EIB. The firm focuses on gender-equal investing, with 56% of its portfolio in women-led startups, aiming to improve VC funding access for diverse founders in Africa.

South African fintech Scale has secured $700,000 in pre-seed funding to enhance its card issuance orchestration platform. Co-founders Barbara Woollams and Miranda Perumal aim to simplify card issuance for businesses in Africa, targeting a growing fintech market.

FNB is exploring blockchain technology to digitize title deeds, improving property ownership tracking, while maintaining a stance against cryptocurrencies despite regulatory guidance to engage with crypto markets.

A group of major banks, including Citigroup and HSBC, is participating in a 12-week pilot with the Federal Reserve to test a digital dollar using a regulated liability network. The pilot aims to improve payment speeds and explore regulatory frameworks, with results intended to contribute to digital money literature.

Khazna, an Egyptian fintech startup, has secured $16 million in pre-Series B funding for domestic growth and expansion into Saudi Arabia. The company, founded in 2020, aims to enhance financial inclusion in the MENA region, targeting user deposits and cross-border services.

The Central African Republic is developing a new legal framework for cryptocurrencies led by 15 experts after its previous crypto initiatives were deemed unconstitutional. The government aims to create economic opportunities while addressing the court's concerns.

P1 Ventures has completed a $25 million funding round for its second fund, focusing on seed-stage investments in Africa's tech sector. The firm, founded by Mauritanian Mikael Hajjar, targets promising startups in various fields, aiming to support ambitious African entrepreneurs and drive regional and global impact.

Following a strong first closing announced last year [2023], Partech Africa II, has reached its final closing at €280M ($300M+) with all major investors from its predecessor fund but also top tier investors making their first commitment into the Partech Africa platform and into the African VC