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The opening day, October 15, will concentrate on investment, regulatory frameworks and commercial opportunities associated with blockchain adoption. Discussions are expected to cover institutional investment, stablecoins, real-world asset tokenisation, cross-border payments and the policies needed to support sustainable digital financial services.
The programme reflects a growing need to connect technological innovation with investment and regulatory certainty. While blockchain-based services offer potential applications beyond cryptocurrency trading, their broader adoption depends partly on appropriate oversight, commercial viability and the ability of businesses to operate across different jurisdictions.
Among the announced speakers are Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission; Ambassador Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s former ambassador to Belgium and the European Union; Daniel Mainda, chief executive of the Nairobi International Financial Centre; and Sitah Lang’o, Swift’s head of East and West Africa.
Richie Santosdiaz of The Fintech Times is also scheduled to participate as a speaker and moderator.
The opening programme will feature venture capitalist Tim Draper in a fireside conversation with festival founder Olubunmi Fabanwo. Their discussion is expected to contribute to wider conversations about entrepreneurship, investment and the development of technology-driven businesses.
Another significant component will be a closed-door discussion on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Digital Trade Protocol. The session will bring together representatives from regulatory institutions and the digital finance industry to consider how regional trade arrangements can support cross-border digital commerce.
These discussions will take place against a backdrop of differing regulatory approaches across African countries, making coordination between governments, financial institutions and technology businesses an important consideration for the sector.
On October 16, the focus will shift towards the technologies, infrastructure and business models influencing Africa’s digital future.
Artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, digital identity, decentralised finance and the creator economy are among the subjects scheduled for discussion. The programme will examine how these technologies could address practical challenges in African markets, particularly in payments, financial inclusion and the delivery of digital services.
Cross-border transactions remain an important area of interest for the continent’s digital finance industry. Blockchain-based systems may offer alternative ways to transfer value and record transactions, although their effectiveness depends on factors such as transaction costs, regulatory compliance, security and interoperability.
Digital identity and decentralised finance will also feature in the discussions, alongside the infrastructure needed to support businesses and consumers adopting emerging technologies.
The programme will include technical workshops, developer discussions and live demonstrations, giving participants opportunities to examine how blockchain systems work and how businesses might apply them to specific market needs.
The startup pitch competition will provide another platform for innovation. Emerging businesses will have an opportunity to present their solutions to investors and industry representatives, with finalists competing on the second day of the festival.
For participating startups, the competition could offer exposure to potential investors, strategic partners and other organisations involved in developing the continent’s technology ecosystem. It also creates an opportunity to assess how entrepreneurs are responding to challenges in financial services and digital infrastructure.
The Africa Blockchain Festival will conclude on October 17 with networking and cultural activities, including a football tournament and opportunities for delegates to experience Nairobi.
The event has attracted participation from organisations operating across financial services, blockchain and digital infrastructure. Inkryptus has been confirmed as the title sponsor, while other participating organisations include VALR, the Nairobi International Financial Centre, ADI Foundation, MEXC and Passpoint.
Their involvement highlights commercial interest in Africa’s digital asset and fintech markets, where businesses are exploring opportunities in payments, investment services, blockchain infrastructure and related technologies.
However, expanding these markets will require more than industry participation. Companies operating across multiple African jurisdictions must also navigate differences in regulation, consumer protection requirements, infrastructure and access to reliable financial services.
The festival’s emphasis on capital, technology and continuity places these issues within a broader discussion about building a digital economy capable of supporting long-term commercial activity.
Networking sessions and investor meetings are expected to connect African startups with potential sources of funding and prospective business partners. Such connections may help promising businesses secure resources to develop products, enter new markets and expand their operations.
The Africa Blockchain Festival 2026 will therefore serve not only as a conference for discussing emerging technologies but also as a meeting point for businesses seeking to translate innovation into practical commercial opportunities.
The Fintech Times will participate in the event through Richie Santosdiaz, who is scheduled to serve as a speaker, moderator and judge in the startup pitch finals.
On the first day, Santosdiaz will moderate a panel titled “Institutional Capital Comes to Africa.” The discussion will feature representatives from Launch Africa Ventures, Antler and Grand Stream, focusing on investment opportunities and the role institutional capital can play in developing the continent’s blockchain ecosystem.
On October 16, he is also scheduled to moderate a fireside chat titled “Adopting Crypto Responsibly” with Keega Gachutha, legal counsel for Inkryptus and managing partner of Keega & Company Advocates.
The session will address responsible cryptocurrency adoption within the context of Africa’s evolving digital economy. His additional role as a judge in the startup pitch finals will connect his participation with the event’s focus on emerging businesses and technology-led solutions.
The Fintech Times is also a partner of the festival, supporting discussions around financial innovation and the development of Africa’s fintech ecosystem.
The Africa Blockchain Festival arrives at a time when blockchain applications are increasingly being explored beyond cryptocurrency trading. Tokenisation, digital payments, financial infrastructure and digital identity are among the areas attracting attention from businesses and policymakers seeking new ways to improve financial services and support economic activity.
Nevertheless, the sector’s long-term prospects will depend on addressing regulatory uncertainty, strengthening consumer protections and ensuring that emerging technologies deliver measurable benefits to businesses and users.
With its programme spanning investment, policy, technical development and entrepreneurship, the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026 is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to assess both the opportunities and the practical challenges facing Africa’s digital economy.
The three-day event in Nairobi will bring together participants from different parts of the ecosystem, creating opportunities to discuss how investment, regulatory cooperation and technological development can contribute to a more connected and sustainable digital marketplace across the continent.
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