Africa blockchain report 2025: Blockchain's multifaceted role in economic development

THE newest blockchain activity across Africa is highlighting the dynamism of this technology, with use cases emerging that demonstrate exciting new developmental opportunities beyond its crypto transaction roots.

- ROB DOWNES

As South Africa prepares to host the first G20 summit in Africa, a key theme set to be discussed throughout both the B20 (Business20) and G20 task teams is inclusive digital development.

We've already seen announcements from the G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable Development stating their priorities, with data governance, quality, privacy, and security top of mind to ensure new technologies are harnessed for improved economies, and better lives.

So in a year where blockchain-focused venture capital (VC) in Africa outpaced all-sector venture capital, as revealed in Absa’s recently released 4th edition of the African Blockchain Report, the technology must remain a central part of such conversations.

Blockchain specific investment activity has shown resilience, and the data indicates investor appetite indigital infrastructure solutions is growing. International (and local) investors are noticing the African entrepreneurial spirit, investing in markets where talent and skills in tech sectors are growing.

This mean seven greater opportunities to leverage the technology (and the institutions that embed it in their systems) to help build stronger, more sustainable African economies.

AI and Blockchain Revolutionising Digital Economies

In recent months, we've seen a fusion of both AI and blockchain technologies — a development that has attracted both proponents and detractors.

However, AI has been proven to enhance blockchain's capabilitiesby providing predictive analytics, automating processes, and improving decision-making.