Akon, the rapper-turned-crypto entrepreneur whos building an entire city in his own name in Senegal, announced today that yet another African city will run on his cryptocurrency, Akoin.
Akoin, which is currently in beta and will launch later this year, will power the Mwale medical and technology city (MMTC), a $2 billion science and tech hub in Western Kenya. MMTC is the Hamptons of New York in Kenya, according to a 2018 promotional video that describes the vision of its creator, Julius Mwale.
At the center of the city, which houses 35,000, is a 5,000 bed hospital called Hamptons Hospital. The hospital is surrounded by thousands of homes, resorts, retail outlets and a 36-hole golf resort. The plan is to rework all of the citys payments systems, which currently process 50 million transactions each year, so that they support Akoin.
Why got to all of the bother? I wanted to create something special for African citizens, especially financially, and give them a currency that they can trust and also utilize on a day to day [basis], Akon, who is of American and Senegalese descent, told a Zoom call full of journalists attending the virtual Blockdown 2020 conference.
Akon said his dream is for Akoin to be the future currency for the continent and all the developing countries around the world.
To kick things off, Akoin, which is based on Stellar, will also power the $10 billion Akon City. Construction on the city started in March 2019, and the city is now 85% complete, Mwale told the Zoom call. From there, the skys the limit: We expect the Akoin platform will exclusively run for about 70% of Africa, said Mwale.
Akon, real name Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, told journalists from his residence in Atlanta that his aspiration is for Akoin to be the future currency for the continent and all the developing countries around the world.
Not now, obviously: smartphone penetration in Kenya is roughly 21%, according to Newzoo's 2018 Global Mobile Market Report, and Senegals is 19%, according to its 2015 edition. Only some Akoin transactions can be processed though so-called dumb phones.
Although those who willingly surrendered their land to Mwale for the construction of MMTC are now virtually millionaires, according to the promotional video, most Africans wont be able to make the most of Akoin.
But my vision for Akoin is the future, Akon told Decrypt. It's not so [much] about what's happening right now, because I know once Akoin is in effect, and we're moving it in the areas that we're moving in...its going to grow very rapidly.
Once enough people come online, people will see how easy it is to navigate within the system, and obviously that will help to integrate it within their lives, he said. Thatll speed up adoption, Akon said. But until the majority of the continent uses smartphones, Akoins full functionality is reserved for those residing in the Hamptons of Africa.
Go here to read the rest:
Akon wants his cryptocurrency to power the whole of Africa - Decrypt
- Bitcoin Center NYC To Support Wednesday's CryptoCurrency Convention By Hosting After-Party [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- As Bitcoin Soars in Value, Alternative Cryptocurrencies ... [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- CryptoCurrency.org [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Qoinpro Cryptocurrency Faucet - Video [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Global Issues Cryptocurrency Project - Video [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- PotCoin @ Cryptocurrency convention NYC, Good Audio - Video [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2014]
- Bryce Weiner @ CryptoCurrency Convention 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2014]
- Unobtanium Cryptocurrency Explained - Video [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2014]
- How To Create Your Own Cryptocurrency Co.Labs code ... [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2014]
- CryptoCoinsNews - Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin News with ... [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2014]
- Joe Rogan and Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian talk Dogecoin, Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2014]
- How To Assess A CryptoCurrency: AltCoin Assessment Protocol. What's the next big AltCoin? - Video [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2014]
- Reggie Middleton's UltraCoin @ NYC CryptoCurrency Convention - Video [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2014]
- The future is Nxt (cryptocurrency platform) - Video [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2014]
- CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Dan Larimer Bitshares - Video [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2014]
- CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Xavier Hawk Permacredits - Video [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2014]
- Does a cryptocurrency have the potential to revolutionize Ukraine? - Video [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2014]
- Marscoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Lennart Lopin - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- Vertcoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Joe Fisher - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- UltraCoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Reggie Middleton - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- iCoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Ryan Ridgeway - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- Florincoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Joe Fiscella - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- PotCoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Nick Iversen - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- ZenithCoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Eddie Corral - Video [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2014]
- Bryce Weiner @ CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Exchange CryptoRush Loses Millions of BlackCoin Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Brock Pierce, Entrepreneur "FireSide Chat" @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC - 4/9/14 - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- [OFFICIAL SPONSOR] Nick Spanos, Bitcoin Center NYC @ CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- AuroraCoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - David Lio - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- DigiByte @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Jared Tate - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Digitalcoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Andrew Davidson - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- BitAngels Co-Founder, David Johnson @ CryptoCurrency Convention NYC 4/9/14 - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- The Future of Cryptocurrency, Investing, and Crowdfunding (Toronto #BitcoinExpo Highlights) #548 - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- How to Set Up a Ripple (CryptoCurrency) Generating System! - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- --- The Great Debate --- Bitcoin vs Altcoin @ The CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Popularcoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Joshua Nold - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- TimeKoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Michael Brown - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Infinitecoin @ CryptoCurrency Convention 4/9/14 - Loring Small - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Bitcoin vs. Political Power: The Cryptocurrency Revolution - Stefan Molyneux at TNW Conference - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- TNW - Stefan Molyneux - Money, Power and Politics The Cryptocurrency Revolution - Video [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Coinnext Cryptocurrency Exchange Coming Soon - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2014]
- The Mises View: "Taxing Cryptocurrency" | Jeff Deist - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- mTrader.org - Cryptocurrency Mining System - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- CS 171 Final Project: Cryptocurrency Visualizations - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency Explained The Tech Guy 1046 - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- Know How 74 Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2014]
- CryptoCurrency of the World Unite! - Video [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2014]
- BBT Presents: Ode to Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- Scryptify Cryptocurrency Video - Crypto Currency Exchanges - Video [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- Bitpagar Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2014]
- How to Mine Cryptocurrency Safely - Video [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2014]
- Bunnycoin - Innovative New Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2014]
- Nxt cryptocurrency platform: Proof of Stake mining system - Video [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2014]
- Violincoin - The first cryptocurrency for musician - - Video [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2014]
- The Cryptocurrency Store (Spanish/Espagnol) - Video [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency: Get Mining! - Video [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2014]
- How To Trade CryptoCurrency: Sign up to a safe and reliable exchange for trading CryptoCurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency and Nonprofits with Eric Nakagawa - Video [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2014]
- The Cryptocurrency Store - Video [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2014]
- Bitcoin Song - The Cryptocurrency Store - Video [Last Updated On: May 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 25th, 2014]
- Videoconferencia Cryptocurrency 201243946 - Video [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2014]
- VideoCharla Jesus Ramos Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2014]
- Sudbury Cryptocurrency Conference, May 26th: Ethereum - Video [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2014]
- 2014 Cubieboard 1, 2 - Mining Peercoins (SHA-256 based) Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2014]
- 2nd Salaries in CryptoCurrency - Video [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2014]
- The Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform - Video [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency business forum - Video [Last Updated On: June 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 4th, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency Opportunities in Southeast Asia | John KIM - Video [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2014]
- Facebook Approves Cryptocurrency Tipping Apps -- Bitcoin Weekend In San Francisco - Video [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2014]
- Wolf of Wall Street & Cryptocurrency w/ Patrick "PK" McDonnell - Video [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2014]
- BankNote CryptoCurrency Review - Video [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2014]
- CryptoCurrency 4 Housing for Father's Day! - Video [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2014]
- Hyper CryptoCurrency Review - Video [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2014]
- 0NE " EPIC " (HD dubstep mix) spot - a cryptocurrency with an Engine - Video [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2014]
- Bitcoin,Litecoin mining rig cryptocurrency 2500W system, 6x 280x ASUS Beast 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2014]
- The Rundown Live #281 Tatiana Moroz (Chemtrails,CryptoCurrency,Anti-War) - Video [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2014]
- Neutrality Coin New Alternative Cryptocurrency - Video [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2014]
- Cryptocurrency Update - Buy Low, Sell High! - Video [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2014]