Is cryptocurrency Africa’s lifeline amid crushing inflation and failing currencies?

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, soaring inflation and rapidly devaluing local currencies have pushed millions to seek new ways to protect their wealth. Traditional financial systems, often inaccessible or unstable, have failed to offer reliable solutions. In response, cryptocurrency—especially stablecoins—has emerged not just as a speculative asset, but as a critical lifeline.

From Nigeria to Zimbabwe and Ghana, Africans are increasingly turning to digital currencies to preserve value, conduct everyday transactions, and reclaim financial autonomy in the face of economic uncertainty.

The conversation around cryptocurrency has moved far beyond trading and hype. Both young and adult citizens in Africa now view digital assets as a vital tool for financial stability, access, and opportunity, compared to traditional banking systems. At the heart of this shift lies a recurring economic issue, primarily inflation.

Across nations such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, the value of money and public trust in financial institutions have significantly diminished due to persistent macroeconomic instability caused by high inflation and a weak local currency.

This system has driven a practical shift toward cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins, as tools for wealth storage, cross-border transactions, and financial autonomy.

Therefore, African crypto discourse increasingly centres not on digital curiosity but on economic survival, even as each government navigates the tension between innovation and regulation in the sector.

Yes, cryptocurrencies are crucial alternatives to failing local currencies

Cryptocurrencies have emerged as crucial alternatives to failing local currencies across Africa, with inflation and depreciation driving citizens to adopt digital assets in large numbers. Zimbabwe is an example of a country where the national currency has repeatedly collapsed since 2008.

The government’s most recent currency attempt—the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)—introduced in April 2024, failed to inspire confidence. Its black-market value collapsed almost instantly upon introduction. As a result, many Zimbabweans continue to rely on the U.S. dollar and, increasingly, cryptocurrencies to stabilise their finances.

Nigeria provides another similar example. Despite being Africa’s largest economy, it struggles with increased depreciation of the naira and double-digit inflation.

From July 2023 to June 2024, Nigerians transacted at least $59 billion in cryptocurrency, ranking the country second globally on the Global Crypto Adoption Index. The movement is driven not only by tech-savvy youth but also by small businesses and everyday citizens seeking to retain their value.

Ghana, meanwhile, saw its currency—the cedi—lose 19 percent of its value in 2024 alone. Many Ghanaians turned to Bitcoin and stablecoins as safeguards when inflation nearly reached 30 percent in 2022. As traditional financial options slow down, digital alternatives expand, and people are using stablecoins not just to trade but also to preserve their wealth.

This economic reality is echoed by blockchain entrepreneur Kevin Imani, Head of StarkWare’s Africa Venture Studio, while speaking in a Podcast hosted by Cointelegraph on May 29, saying “These were kids holding stablecoins not to spend them, but to store value.” The use of crypto here is not speculative—it is a financial shield against the corrosive power of inflation.

Inefficiency of traditional finance boosts crypto adoption

Traditional banking in Africa remains inaccessible, inefficient, or untrusted in many regions, worsening the impact of inflation. In Sierra Leone and Guinea, economic downturn has left national currencies worthless.

Over 20,000 Sierra Leonean leones are now required to buy a single U.S. dollar, even after currency redenomination efforts. In such contexts, the appeal of stable, digital alternatives grows. Similar to Guinea’s economy, which was weakened by decades of political instability and structural deficits.

Even in countries where crypto is banned, demand persists. Ethiopia, for instance, prohibits the use of digital currency. Yet in 2024, it became the fastest-growing market for retail-sized stablecoin transfers, with about a 180 percent year-on-year increase.

This situation highlights the disparity between government regulations and what people truly need. When the Ethiopian birr lost 30 percent of its value in July 2024, many turned to cryptocurrency as their only means of protecting the value of their money.

The growing demand in areas of legal uncertainty forces many users into unregulated peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, which, while providing access, also increases risk.

“You have to start becoming a trader almost,” Imani explained, describing the difficult journey of turning stablecoins into usable local currency. This further fuels the need for regulation that acknowledges demand without pushing it underground.

Regulatory struggles and policy reforms

African governments and central banks are now aware that ignoring cryptocurrency is no longer an option. Initially, most states responded with bans, crackdowns, or outright dismissals. Now, a more nuanced approach is emerging—one that seeks to strike a balance between risk and innovation.

In Nigeria, the federal government has made notable progress. In 2025, digital assets were officially classified as securities under the Investments and Securities Act. This recognition reflects the unavoidable prominence of crypto in the country’s economy. Yet concerns remain. Authorities have taken legal action against firms like Binance, citing illicit financial flows and money laundering.

Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, clarified the government’s intent: “This is part of the effort to strengthen our laws, not to cripple anybody… We are ensuring that no one comes and operates without regulation.”

He acknowledged broader concerns that crypto could facilitate terrorism financing and tax evasion, but emphasised the government’s openness to regulated innovation.

Ghana is also moving forward with plans to regulate its crypto space. The Bank of Ghana aims to introduce the Virtual Asset Providers Act by September 2025, which will formalise digital asset usage, protect consumers, and ensure transparency.

Meanwhile, central banks across the continent are exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Though not substitutes for cryptocurrencies, CBDCs demonstrate governments’ desire to digitise economies in controlled ways, offering digital alternatives to fiat while preserving regulatory authority.

Innovations and solutions emerging from African crypto adoption

Despite regulatory and infrastructural challenges, African entrepreneurs and tech innovators are harnessing cryptocurrency to unlock new opportunities for wealth creation and access.

One key example is the partnership between Risevest and Xend Finance, which now allows Africans to invest in fractional, tokenised assets, such as U.S. real estate and stock markets, using stablecoins.

“This partnership… allows us to offer fractional, dollar-based assets like real estate and US stocks in a seamless, blockchain-powered format,” said Eke Urum, CEO of Risevest. “It’s a game-changer for young Africans looking to build wealth securely, transparently, and without barriers.”

Such platforms lower the traditional financial entry threshold—some with as little as $5—and offer exposure to more stable global markets, protecting users from local economic shocks.

Moreover, Kevin Imani emphasised how blockchain’s utility in Africa extends beyond finance. In countries with unreliable energy infrastructure, for example, peer-to-peer energy trading powered by blockchain is beginning to offer decentralised, community-driven solutions.

“From Kenya to Nigeria, local needs, not hype, drove early adoption,” Imani said.

These innovations signify how necessity fosters resilience and how digital tools, when rooted in real-world problems, can bridge gaps in access, value, and opportunity.

Policy recommendations and the road ahead

As outlined in the 2025 African Economic Outlook report, structural reform is crucial for sustainable development and economic resilience.

Prof. Kevin Chika Urama of the African Development Bank advocates stronger coordination between fiscal and monetary policy to control inflation.

He also calls for increased foreign reserves, integrated infrastructure investment, and pre-emptive debt restructuring to reduce financial shocks and defaults.

His vision aligns with the long-term benefits of sound cryptocurrency policy. When properly regulated, digital assets can complement these macroeconomic strategies by enhancing liquidity, supporting remittances, and encouraging private-sector investment through transparency and accessibility.

To move forward, African governments must recognise that inflation and financial exclusion are not temporary crises—they are conditions in many parts of the continent. As such, digital currencies should be seen not as threats but as tools.

Lastly, the cryptocurrency discourse in Africa does not stem from hype, luxury, or speculative fervour. It is a result of urgent economic realities, currency devaluation, inflation, and institutional fragility. In this context, digital assets represent more than innovation; they offer escape routes from collapsing financial systems.