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When Jeremiah Musa needed to hire reporters for The Bit Gazette, his Dubai-based cryptocurrency publication, he didn’t post listings in London, New York, or Singapore—the traditional hubs of financial journalism. Instead, he recruited writers in Lagos, Kano, and other Nigerian cities.
The decision wasn’t about cutting costs. It was about editorial insight.
“The most important crypto stories aren’t happening in Silicon Valley boardrooms,” Musa said in a recent interview with a top Nigerian publication, THISDAYLIVE. “They’re happening in places where people use Bitcoin to protect savings from inflation, where stablecoins are replacing traditional remittances, where digital currencies are solving real problems.”
The Bit Gazette is part of a broader shift in crypto media: publications building distributed editorial teams in emerging markets, where cryptocurrency adoption is highest and local journalists understand the technology’s real-world applications in ways Western reporters often cannot.
This “reverse outsourcing” model—hiring skilled journalists in developing economies not primarily for cost savings but for perspective—is quietly reshaping how the crypto industry tells its own story.
For years, crypto coverage centered on price movements, regulatory battles in Washington and Brussels, and venture capital deals in Silicon Valley. Emerging markets were often treated as afterthoughts—exotic backdrops for feature stories about “Bitcoin in Africa” written by visiting correspondents.
That’s changing as data reveals where crypto actually matters most.
According to Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, nine of the top ten countries for cryptocurrency adoption are in emerging markets, led by India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ukraine, Philippines, and Russia.
In Nigeria alone, on-chain crypto transaction volume for 2025 has reached $92.1 billion, making it one of the world’s most active crypto markets relative to GDP.
Several publications have embraced distributed models, though approaches vary.
Cryptonews.com, one of the industry’s leading outlets, employs contributors across multiple countries, with editorial presence beyond traditional media capitals.
Decrypt maintains a primarily remote team. Even legacy outlets are adapting, CoinDesk has expanded coverage in African markets through local correspondents whose reporting on regional regulatory developments has gained industry recognition.
The Bit Gazette’s approach represents perhaps the most deliberate application of this philosophy. Since launching its editorial expansion in 2024, the publication has built an entirely remote newsroom with many Nigerian contributors while maintaining its Dubai headquarters.
The team members from Nigeria includes the Editor Ayuba Haruna, who previously covered education and Nigerian outlets, and writers like Victor Ohagwasi and Johnson Victor, who bring backgrounds in digital economies. Moses Edozie brings his background in storytelling with keen interest in digging into crypto hacks, and Davidson Okechukwu round out coverage of blockchain innovation, market trends and African crypto policy.
“Working with The Bit Gazette over the past four months has been transformative,” Haruna said in the THISDAYLIVE feature. “As editor, I’ve gained invaluable exposure to the global crypto terrain, deepening my understanding of market trends and blockchain innovation. This platform has been a true launchpad, sharpening my editorial skills while immersing me in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.”
The results are evident in coverage depth. When Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission proposed new crypto regulations in 2024, The Bit Gazette’s analysis drew on team members’ direct access to local regulators and market participants.
“My time at The Bit Gazette has been nothing short of eye-opening,” said Victor Ohagwasi. “Stepping into the global crypto space through their platform helped me understand the industry beyond headlines and hype. The team challenges me, guides me, and gives me room to grow.”
Yet the model isn’t without challenges. Musa acknowledges ongoing obstacles with payment systems—international wire transfers to Nigerian accounts can take days and incur significant fees—and occasional internet infrastructure issues that require backup systems.
“We’ve had to build redundancy into everything,” he told THISDAYLIVE. “Multiple payment channels, backup internet connections, flexible deadline structures. But these are solvable problems, and the editorial advantages far outweigh the operational friction.”
The distributed model’s value extends beyond economics to editorial authenticity.
When Nigeria’s central bank restricted cryptocurrency transactions in 2021, Western outlets published explainers based on press releases and analyst calls. Publications with Nigerian teams produced coverage that included first-person accounts from journalists navigating the restrictions, using peer-to-peer platforms, and documenting the policy’s real-world impact.
This experiential knowledge proves particularly valuable for audiences in similar markets. When publications with emerging market teams cover crypto adoption in countries with currency instability, readers recognize the authority that comes from direct experience.
“I know what it’s like to protect savings from inflation,” said Moses Edozie, who is currently attending a journalism fellowship in Kano while continuing his work with The Bit Gazette. “That’s not something you learn from reading white papers. It changes how you evaluate projects, assess risks, and explain trade-offs. Thank you, TBG, for being my launchpad.”
Johnson Victor echoed this perspective:
“Working with The Bit Gazette has been a remarkable step up into the global crypto space. Contributing to its forward-thinking journalism exposed me to international industry voices, sharpened my understanding of Web3 trends and expanded my professional network beyond borders.”
The distributed model faces genuine obstacles beyond payments and internet connectivity.
Time zone coordination can be challenging. When The Bit Gazette’s Dubai management team wants real-time collaboration with Lagos-based writers, the three-hour difference requires careful scheduling. Publications spanning more extreme time zones face even greater coordination challenges.
Quality control requires robust systems. Remote work demands more rigorous editorial processes than traditional newsrooms, where informal hallway conversations can catch errors or align strategy. Everything must be systematized, documented, and explicit.
There’s also the credibility question. Does a crypto publication without significant presence in major financial centers face skepticism from institutional sources?
“Initially, yes,” Musa acknowledged in his THISDAYLIVE interview. “We had to work harder to prove our coverage was rigorous and our access was real. But that’s changed as our track record has grown. Now sources come to us because they know we understand markets that many Western outlets overlook.”
Whether distributed newsrooms in emerging markets become the industry standard or remain a niche approach depends on several factors: continued improvement in internet infrastructure, evolution of international payment systems, and most importantly, whether the editorial advantages continue to justify the operational challenges.
For now, publications that have embraced the model report positive results. The Bit Gazette’s coverage has gained traction particularly in African markets where competing outlets struggle to provide the same depth of local insight.
“This isn’t charity or social impact window-dressing,” Musa told THISDAYLIVE. “This is strategic. We’re building a publication that can cover crypto authentically because our team lives in the markets where crypto matters most.”
The trend suggests a broader recognition: in covering a truly global technology, having a truly global team isn’t just ethical—it’s essential.
“This crypto powerhouse has catapulted me onto the global stage, connecting me with industry leaders and enthusiasts worldwide,” said David Okechukwu. “Through their platform, I’ve dissected trends, decoded blockchain innovations, and amplified Africa’s voice in the crypto revolution. Grateful for the opportunity to ride this wave with The Bit Gazette.”
As cryptocurrency adoption continues accelerating in emerging markets—and as those markets produce ever-larger shares of global crypto transaction volume—expect more publications to conclude that the best way to cover the story is to hire journalists living it.
The question isn’t whether distributed newsrooms work. The question is whether traditional media institutions, with their legacy systems and geographic inertia, can adapt quickly enough to compete.
