NAIROBI, Kenya, June 13 – The third edition of the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference (KBCC) has officially opened in Nairobi, bringing together over 1,500 participants from across Africa to discuss the future of digital assets and the evolving regulatory landscape.
Powered by Binance and supported by sponsors including Bitget, Sumsub, Tether, and Telcoin, the 2025 conference is being held under the theme “Driving Blockchain Innovation and Mass Adoption.” Attendees include developers, regulators, banks, fintechs, startups, and policy experts.
The forum comes as Kenya debates key legislative and fiscal proposals affecting the blockchain sector. These include the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Bill and provisions in the 2025 Finance Bill related to digital asset taxation.
Speaking during the opening, Sheila Waswa, CEO of Chasing Mavericks and lead conference organiser, emphasised the importance of African agency in shaping the digital economy.
“The question is no longer whether blockchain will change Africa, but whether Africans will take control of that change through informed participation,” she said.
Her remarks were echoed by Larry Cooke, Head of Legal for Binance Africa, who praised Kenya’s regulatory trajectory but warned against policy overreach.
“Effective regulation must be timely. Overregulation kills progress, while underregulation creates loopholes,” he said, adding that recognising foreign-issued licences could streamline compliance for global players operating in Kenya.
Cooke welcomed proposed revisions to the Digital Asset Tax—lowering the rate from 3% to 1.5%—but cautioned against additional levies such as VAT or corporate taxes that could hinder growth.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) official Nickson Omondi used the platform to clarify the agency’s stance on digital assets, positioning the tax authority as a partner in development.
“KRA is not just about revenue collection. We are here to demystify taxation, educate the public, and ensure fairness,” he told delegates, noting ongoing efforts to collaborate with other regulators and prevent financial crime.
Cybersecurity and identity verification also featured prominently. Tatenda Chinodakufa, Africa Business Development Manager at Sumsub, warned of threats like deepfake fraud and synthetic identity risks. He highlighted Kenya’s mobile-money penetration and digital-savvy population as assets in scaling secure blockchain solutions.
On the exhibition floor, local innovations drew attention—from tokenised land registries and blockchain-powered tea supply chains to carbon credit platforms and savings tools linked to the Kenyan shilling. Panels covered a wide range of issues, including smart contract auditing, financial inclusion, zero-knowledge proofs, and responsible crypto adoption.
The conference has also facilitated rare direct engagement between regulators and private-sector leaders. Screens throughout the venue displayed real-time tax reminders from KRA, reinforcing the message that compliance is essential to industry credibility.
As the event progressed, stakeholders voiced cautious optimism that the VASP Bill would advance and that tax reforms could encourage long-term investment. The consensus among many participants was that Kenya is well-positioned to shape blockchain policy and innovation not just nationally, but across the continent.
With new partnerships forged, products showcased, and legislative conversations underway, KBCC 2025 signaled that Africa’s blockchain transformation is accelerating—and Kenya is playing a central role.
