Fintech leaders, banking executives, telecom operators, regulators, and blockchain players will converge in Nairobi for the 4th edition of the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference (KBCC 2026).
Scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, the conference is expected to attract over 1,500 participants from across Africa and beyond, bringing together key stakeholders shaping the future of finance on the continent.
Now in its fourth year, KBCC has evolved into one of Africa’s most influential platforms at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy. This year’s theme, “Stablecoins, Payments and the Future of Africa’s Digital Economy,” signals a clear industry transition from experimentation to real-world implementation.
At the center of discussions will be stablecoins, particularly USDT, which are rapidly emerging as one of the most practical applications of blockchain technology globally. In 2025 alone, USDT processed more than $13 trillion in transfer volume, averaging $35 billion in daily transactions and serving an estimated 576 million users worldwide.
Across Africa, adoption is accelerating. Stablecoins are increasingly being used for cross-border payments, remittances, treasury management, and merchant settlements. Usage grew by 18.6% year-on-year in 2025, with Kenya ranking among the continent’s leading markets.
Dave Evans, CTO of PawaPay, noted that Africa’s long-standing leadership in mobile money creates a natural foundation for stablecoin adoption.
“Africa, with mobile money for the last 15 years, has been at the forefront of digital wallet commerce. The addition of stablecoin flows is a natural extension… The focus now is enabling seamless integration between stablecoins and mobile wallets to support commerce where consumers need it most.”
Industry leaders say the rise of stablecoins is being fueled not just by innovation, but by tangible business needs, including faster settlement, lower transaction costs, and seamless cross-border operations.
David Nandwa, CEO of HoneyCoin, emphasized the importance of utility over hype:
“The true stablecoin revolution isn’t about the technology itself; it’s about real-world utility and institutional-grade access… We are building a world where geography is no longer a financial barrier.”
Financial institutions and fintech companies are also beginning to integrate stablecoin infrastructure into their operations, using it to improve liquidity management, reduce foreign exchange costs, and enable 24/7 global payments.
The maturation of the stablecoin ecosystem is also reflected in growing regulatory engagement and improved accountability mechanisms. Tether, the issuer of USDT, has worked with over 310 law enforcement agencies globally, assisting in more than 2,000 cases and freezing over $4 billion in illicit funds. Meanwhile, sanctions-related illicit activity in stablecoins dropped by 60% between 2024 and 2025, according to TRM Labs.
This growing trust is expected to be a key theme at KBCC 2026, as regulators and industry players explore frameworks to support responsible innovation.
The conference will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, regulator roundtables, and breakout sessions focused on payments infrastructure, policy, and capital. It will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, and technology providers to discuss how blockchain and stablecoins can scale sustainably across African markets.
Felix Macharia, CEO and Co-Founder of Kotani Pay, highlighted the conference’s growing impact:
“It has been impressive to see KBCC grow from a close-knit crypto community into a leading platform for innovation and dialogue… With progress in regulation, we expect even broader participation across industries.”
KBCC 2026 will feature a lineup of prominent speakers, including Tom Wang (OKX), Sitah Lang’o (SWIFT), Daniel Mainda (Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority), Apollo Sande (Luno), and Peter Mwangi (VALR), among others.
The event is backed by major industry sponsors such as OKX, Tether, VALR, HoneyCoin, Bitget, Kotani Pay, Luno, YoguPay, and PawaPay.
Following the success of the 2025 edition, which drew over 1,600 attendees, 70+ speakers, and generated more than 8 million hashtag reach, the 2026 conference is expected to further strengthen its role in shaping Africa’s digital financial future.
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