Nairobi will host a three-day test of whether Africa’s digital finance boom can deliver for ordinary citizens, as the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026 runs from 15 to 17 October at the Sarit Expo Centre in Kenya. The gathering brings together the regulators, institutions and innovators whose decisions will shape how people across the continent send money, save and access financial services in the years ahead.
More than 3,000 delegates from across Africa and beyond are expected, including regulators, government officials, financial institutions, blockchain developers, fintech companies and entrepreneurs. The theme, ‘Capital, Code, and Continuity: Building Africa’s Permanent Digital Economy’, signals a focus on whether the continent’s digital economy can be built on foundations that last.
For the public, the stakes are practical rather than abstract. Sessions will examine how blockchain technology can improve cross-border transactions, strengthen financial inclusion and support new business models, all areas with a direct bearing on how people send money, access services and participate in the economy. The festival follows an inaugural edition held in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2025. Its move to Kenya comes as the country continues developing its digital asset regulatory environment and expanding its wider fintech ecosystem.
The agenda is built around three interconnected pillars: capital, code and continuity. Day one, 15 October, will concentrate on investment, regulation and the commercial opportunities emerging from blockchain adoption, with discussions covering institutional investment, stablecoins, tokenisation of real-world assets, cross-border payments and the regulatory frameworks needed to support Africa’s expanding digital economy.
The speaker line-up reflects the regulatory weight behind the event. Among those confirmed are Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission; Ambassador Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s former Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union; Daniel Mainda, CEO of the Nairobi International Financial Centre; and Sitah Lang’o, Head of East and West Africa at Swift. Richie Santosdiaz of The Fintech Times will also speak. The opening programme additionally features venture capitalist Tim Draper in a fireside conversation with festival founder Olubunmi Fabanwo.
A closed-door discussion on day one deserves particular attention from the public. It will address operationalising the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Digital Trade Protocol, bringing together representatives from regulatory institutions and the wider digital finance ecosystem. How such protocols are put into practice could determine whether digital trade rules translate into tangible benefits for businesses and consumers alike.
Meanwhile, attention shifts on 16 October to the technologies and businesses shaping Africa’s digital future, with artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, digital identity, decentralised finance and the creator economy featuring prominently. The programme includes technical workshops, developer discussions, live demonstrations and conversations about the future of digital payments. A startup pitch competition will give emerging businesses the chance to present their solutions before investors and industry representatives, with finalists competing on the second day. The festival concludes on 17 October with networking and cultural activities, including a football tournament and opportunities for delegates to experience Nairobi.
The event has drawn participation from organisations across financial services, blockchain and digital infrastructure. Inkryptus is confirmed as title sponsor, alongside involvement from VALR, the Nairobi International Financial Centre, ADI Foundation, MEXC and Passpoint. Organisers say this participation reflects growing interest in Africa’s digital asset ecosystem as more countries explore regulatory frameworks and commercial uses of the technology. Beyond the conference sessions, dedicated networking opportunities and investor meetings aim to connect African startups with potential partners and sources of capital.
The Fintech Times will be represented throughout, as both a partner of the festival and through Santosdiaz, who will speak and moderate. On the first day he will moderate the panel ‘Institutional Capital Comes to Africa’, featuring representatives from Launch Africa Ventures, Antler and Grand Stream, examining investment opportunities and the role of institutional capital in developing Africa’s blockchain ecosystem. On day two he will moderate a fireside chat titled ‘Adopting Crypto Responsibly’ with Keega Gachutha, Legal Counsel for Inkryptus and Managing Partner of Keega & Company Advocates. Santosdiaz is also listed among the judges for the startup pitch finals. Further details of the programme are available at https://thefintechtimes.com/africa-blockchain-festival-2026-set-to-take-centre-stage-in-nairobi/
As blockchain adoption moves beyond cryptocurrencies towards wider applications in payments, investment and digital infrastructure, the festival offers a chance to take stock of the continent’s progress. The open question is whether the foundations laid in Nairobi this October will add up to a digital economy that genuinely serves the public.