Crypto in Africa: Startup meshes with free mobile data, KryptoPal helps African kids

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Blockchain technology has brought a great deal of solutions to various African countries. Different innovations continually come up to help curb the problems afflicting African countries—the latest of which is courtesy of a South African company looking to provide free data to the continent.

BlockMesh to provide free mobile data

BlockMesh, a South Africa-based cryptocurrency company, is embarking on an ambitious project to make mobile data use in the country free. Using the latest innovations in mesh networking, the company plans to “create cost-free communications networks,” effectively “disrupting the communications industry.”

According to the company, South Africa’s poverty and high data prices have largely contributed to the slow growth in the country. BlockMesh’s new project will help the majority of people in the country and other developing countries save up money.

BlockMesh founder Bjorn Guido explained that the system works by harnessing the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) to facilitate “interpersonal communications.”

“We harness the power of the Internet of Things to provide interpersonal communication which isn’t just free to use, but actually rewards users in cryptocurrency to use it. Our network will be made up of the excess bandwidth that exists across the world,” Guido said in a statement.

By using blockchain peer-to-peer properties, BlockMesh has been able to create a telecommunication system that works outside normal cellular tower range. In addition, the company said it is also in the final stages of developing a “Keyring booster,” which is capable of increasing smart phone range from a mere 150 meters to a 15 kilometers.

African women involvement in cryptocurrencies

Women empowerment songs are sung all across the world, as more of them get more involved in different aspects of life by the day. In Africa, women are fighting hard to help young girls survive in a society dominated by males.

As such, they are not being left out in embracing Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. According to reports, the number of women joining the cryptocurrency market is growing each day. Majority of them in the crypto market are women aged 18-30. However, the industry is still largely dominated by the male as they seem to be more perceptive to blockchain cryptocurrencies.

In the last six months, investments by women in cryptocurrenies have grown from 6 percent to 13 percent. Some women see this new technology as a platform that will help accelerate bridging of equality between the two genders.

To attain maximum women involvement in cryptocurrency, a lot has to be done. So far, there are communities in African countries that are still adamant against allowing young women access education, run for the political offices or even speak on relevant matters. A case in point, the Maasai community in Kenya continues with the traditional practice where women are to be seen and not heard. Women in Sudan and Somali also share in the same predicament.

New KryptoPal system to help Kids in Africa

Cryptocurrencies continue to bring good news to African countries and other parts of the world. Children in need in Tanzania and Malawi have another reason to smile. KryptoPal, a blockchain technology company, announced its intention to open up a cryptocurrency donation channel for help2kids, a Swiss NGO that helps children in Tanzania and Malawi.

KryptoPal believes this new platform will ensure service provision is streamlined and eased. The platform will provide a secure and transparent avenue for their programs. The company believes this new system will ensure all the donated funds are properly utilized without aspects of corruption and other excessive overhead costs.

Currently, there are 750 children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who receive help from help2kids. KryptoPal will set up a public key and obtain Know Your Customer information for each help2kids project. They also plan to integrate its software development kit (SDK) into help2kids website to enable the charity to accept donations in cryptocurrencies.