For years, the conversation about cryptocurrency in Africa revolved around speculation, investment, and trading. But that story is changing fast.
Across Africa, mainly in the high crypto adoption regions, millions are finding practical uses for digital currencies in their everyday lives. Whether buying groceries, paying bills, booking travel, or even renting a home, crypto is no longer a strange concept; it’s becoming a tool of survival and convenience.
This shift is driven less by hype and more by necessity. With persistent currency devaluation, high remittance costs, and unreliable banking systems, Africans are turning to cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, as a lifeline.
What was once the preserve of tech enthusiasts is now a core part of the financial routines of students, freelancers, small business owners, and even major retailers.
Why crypto works in Africa
Unlike Western markets, where institutional trading dominates, Africa’s crypto story is grassroots. Nigeria, the continent’s largest market, received an estimated $59 billion in crypto value between July 2023 and June 2024, with 85 per cent of transactions under $1 million.
In other words, ordinary people, not hedge funds, are driving adoption.
The appeal is clear: borderless transactions, protection from inflation, and the ability to bypass costly and slow traditional financial rails.
Mobile money platforms like M-Pesa have already primed Africans to embrace digital-first payments, and now crypto is extending that development globally.
10 things you can buy with crypto in Africa
So, what does this mean in practice? Techpression prepared ten categories in which cryptocurrency is already proving its worth.
1. Groceries and retail goods
South Africa turned a significant corner in crypto adoption when retail giant Pick n Pay let customers pay with Bitcoin at checkout.
With Bitcoin Lightning Network, shoppers can settle their grocery bills in seconds—without fuss or delays.
What started small in early 2023 has now grown into a serious trend. Back then, crypto payments at Pick n Pay brought in around R25,000 a month.
Fast forward to 2024, and that figure has surged to nearly R1 million in monthly sales from customers buying everything from bread and milk to airtime and household items with Bitcoin.
It indicates that cryptocurrency is no longer confined to trading apps or niche online circles. Instead, it’s becoming part of everyday life in the shopping aisles.
“While for many years crypto was something for specialists on their computers, or used by early adopters trying it out, things are changing,” Pick’n Pay said.
2. E-commerce and online shopping
Platforms like Bitrefill and BitAfrika make it easy for Africans to spend crypto on everyday needs. Users can buy gift cards for local retailers such as Takealot, Woolworths, and Checkers or even global giants like Amazon and Netflix, with just a few clicks.
Another popular option is Cardtonic, a platform well-known for its reliability in buying and selling international and local gift cards. From Amazon and Steam to iTunes, PlayStation, and Xbox, the app gives users access to various digital vouchers at competitive rates.
Customers love the experience too. One satisfied user, Nurudeen Abdulrasak, wrote on the Play Store:
“I highly rate this app. I recommended it to my brothers and friends, and they also love it.”
Beyond gift cards, some services also provide virtual USD cards funded by stablecoins, allowing Africans to shop anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
This is proving especially useful for paying for subscriptions, online courses, or global e-commerce platforms that don’t always support African bank cards, and this is number two on the table.
3. Flights, hotels, and travel services
Planning a safari in Kenya or a business trip to Johannesburg? Thanks to platforms like Travala.com and Alternative Airlines, you can now book flights and hotels across Africa using more than 100 cryptocurrencies alongside traditional payment methods.
Travala describes itself as “the leading crypto-native travel platform,” allowing travellers to pay seamlessly with digital assets or fiat wherever they’re headed.
The appeal goes beyond convenience for cross-border travellers. Paying with crypto often means avoiding steep currency exchange fees, making trips more straightforward and affordable, especially in emergencies.
4. Real estate and rentals
In Africa, the use of crypto in property is still in its early stages. For example, South African law requires property sales to be settled in rand, but companies like Quorum Holdings are experimenting by accepting rental deposits in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In Nigeria, a handful of startups are testing property tokenisation, a model that could one day make real estate investment more accessible and transparent.
While adoption across Africa is still limited, the trend is already gaining momentum elsewhere. In places like Dubai, developers have embraced crypto payments for luxury apartments, and in parts of the U.S. and Europe, blockchain-powered tokenisation allows people to buy fractional shares in real estate.
These global examples indicate what could be possible in Africa as regulations mature and market confidence grows.
5. Cross-border remittances
One of Africa’s clearest use cases for crypto is sending money across borders. Traditional remittances often take days to clear and can swallow up as much as 7 per cent of the fee transfer.
With tools like Bitcoin’s Lightning Network or stablecoins, that’s changing fast. Platforms such as Tando in Kenya and BitSpenda in Ghana let people move money instantly and at a fraction of the usual cost, with funds landing directly in mobile wallets.
For migrant workers and freelancers, this is nothing short of a game-changer.
Another player, Lemify, is carving out space by serving Africans in the diaspora who want a faster, cheaper, and more reliable way to send money back home.
Together, these platforms show how crypto is reshaping remittances into something faster, fairer, and more accessible.
6. Utility bills and services
From electricity to internet subscriptions, crypto is creeping into everyday financial obligations. BitAfrika’s virtual USD cards allow users to pay for services like Spotify, AWS, or even cloud software subscriptions.
This reduces reliance on local banking systems and creates a closed-loop ecosystem where income and spending can occur in crypto.
7. Digital goods and subscriptions
Africa’s young, mobile-first population is driving a surge in crypto spending on gaming, streaming, and digital tools.
Services like Bitrefill make it easy to grab vouchers for Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam, while exchanges such as Binance and Luno provide virtual debit cards that work at millions of merchants worldwide.
For students, gamers, and digital natives, crypto isn’t just an investment; it’s a simple way to unlock global entertainment and services that might otherwise be out of reach.
8. Educational courses and training
With demand for blockchain skills on the rise, crypto is starting to play a role in education funding. In South Africa, the Learnfast Training Centre now accepts crypto payments for courses on Bitcoin and blockchain.
It’s not just tuition, either. In other countries, students use crypto to cover the cost of online certifications, coding boot camps, and e-learning platforms, turning digital assets into a direct investment in their future careers.
9. Freelance and gig economy payouts
For Africa’s fastest-growing remote workforce, crypto has become a financial lifeline. Platforms like Busha and BitAfrika allow freelancers to get paid in stablecoins, instantly convert their earnings into local currency, or spend directly using virtual cards.
This eliminates the usual bank delays and high transfer fees, giving workers, even those without traditional bank accounts, a faster, cheaper way to participate in the global gig economy.
10. Savings and micro-investments
In countries battling high inflation, crypto is becoming more than just a currency — it’s a financial safety net. Stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar give people a way to protect their savings from local currency swings, while platforms like VALR and AltCoinTrader in South Africa offer staking and yield options that help users grow their holdings.
For many, crypto isn’t simply a way to pay — it’s a form of personal treasury management, providing stability and growth where traditional banking often falls short.
The rails behind crypto’s rise and roadblocks
Behind these real-world applications is a growing network of innovators and enablers. Local platforms like Onafriq, Busha, and BitAfrika are building mobile-first tools that integrate seamlessly with Africa’s dominant mobile money systems.
At the global level, partnerships like Mastercard and Circle’s stablecoin initiative legitimise crypto in mainstream finance, offering regulated pathways for settlement.
This hybrid model, where crypto and fiat coexist, is fast becoming the future.
Of course, the journey isn’t without hurdles. Lack of user education remains a critical barrier, leaving millions vulnerable to scams like the $300 million fraud scheme that rocked Zambia.
Regulatory ambiguity also stifles confidence, as bans in countries like Algeria and Morocco force activity into grey markets.
Volatility remains a challenge, too, though stablecoins are easing that burden. Ultimately, building trust and securing transactions will be key to mainstream adoption.
Despite these obstacles, the trend is unmistakable. Crypto in Africa has evolved from a speculative gamble to a practical tool that pays for groceries, tuition, rent, and salaries.