Strike CEO Jack Mallers speaking at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami Beach, Florida (Frederick Munawa)

Bitcoin-Focused Payments App Strike Rolls Out Services to Africa

Summary

Bitcoin payments application Strike is expanding its services to Africa, starting with Gabon, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Strike, a product of Chicago-based startup Zap, is a mobile payment app that uses blockchain technology for money transfers. The company plans to expand to over 65 countries, including Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Strike Africa will allow customers to buy and sell bitcoin and Tether's dollar stablecoin, provide local fiat currency on-ramps and off-ramps, and enable global payments through Bitcoin's Lightning network. Bitcoin and stablecoins are increasingly popular in developing countries with high inflation and unstable financial systems. In Nigeria, Africa's largest market, crypto adoption is high due to the local currency's devaluation.