Kelly Cromley

Africa's financial landscape continues to face significant challenges, particularly in terms of accessibility and efficiency. James Zhang, the CEO of Congo-based Web3 startup Jambo, experienced these difficulties firsthand during his teenage years. While attempting to transfer money from a Congolese bank to a friend in Ghana, he encountered major obstacles, including prolonged processing times, exorbitant fees, and inefficiencies in the system. This experience led him to question why cross-border transactions remained so complicated and sparked his interest in seeking an alternative to traditional banking mechanisms.

Find Satoshi Lab (FSL), the developer behind STEPN, has introduced GMT Pay, a new payment solution designed to enable users to utilize their Web3 earnings for daily transactions. This development marks a significant step in integrating blockchain-based rewards into mainstream financial systems.

Koni Stack, a key player in next-generation Web3 decentralized applications (dApps), has introduced Football Rivals, a mini-app now available on Telegram. Utilizing Koni Stack's advanced mini-app SDK, this new release is accessible to users worldwide and aims to enhance blockchain gaming adoption.

Anichess, a Web3 chess-based strategy game developed by Animoca Brands, has reached a significant milestone by attracting over 100,000 monthly active players within three months of its public alpha launch. This rapid growth underscores the expanding influence of Web3 gaming and the increasing adoption of blockchain-based gaming experiences.

PalmPay, a prominent fintech platform in Africa, has integrated with Zone, the continent's rapidly expanding payment infrastructure provider, to enhance its payment processing capabilities. This collaboration with Zone's regulated blockchain network is expected to improve transaction efficiency and security across PalmPay's extensive network of 1.2 million agents and merchants.

LINE NEXT has introduced Mini Dapps along with a dedicated Dapp Portal, aiming to enhance the Web3 capabilities of LINE Messenger. This development, powered by the Kaia blockchain, marks a significant milestone for the platform by providing users with direct access to decentralized applications (Dapps) within the LINE Messenger ecosystem. The initiative is designed to improve user experience and accessibility, eliminating the need for additional downloads.

The POKE project has emerged as a prominent player in the blockchain gaming industry, merging digital gaming with decentralized technology in a novel manner. Designed specifically for the Telegram platform, the game introduces a Tap-to-Earn mechanism where participants manage virtual characters known as POKE, accumulate companions, and earn rewards. By integrating meme culture with a gameplay experience inspired by Pokémon, the project caters to both cryptocurrency enthusiasts and casual gamers.

A strategic partnership has been established between NEOM and the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) to accelerate the development of the Web3 ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. By pooling their expertise and resources, the initiative aims to launch accelerator programs designed to provide selected startups with mentorship, funding opportunities, and valuable industry connections.

Humanity Protocol has entered into a strategic partnership with OKX Wallet to enhance decentralized identity solutions within the Web3 ecosystem. This collaboration represents a significant step toward improving identity verification while maintaining user privacy and security.

Quantum eMotion Corp. (QeM) has announced groundbreaking advancements in its quantum-based hardware wallet, aiming to enhance security in blockchain and cryptocurrency transactions. Recent research indicates that this new solution minimizes the risk of financial losses by up to 98% when compared to conventional hierarchical deterministic (HD) wallets.