NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24 – Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as a foundational layer for the future digital economy rather than a speculative asset, according to Talo Africa Chairman Robert Kirubi.
Kirubi who spoke during of the Adopting Bitcoin conference currently underway in Nairobi asserted that the technology could help African countries preserve value, strengthen economic sovereignty, and reduce dependence on external financial systems.
Kirubi argued that Africa’s young population, widespread mobile technology adoption, and growing digital economy position the continent to play a significant role in the next phase of global financial innovation.
He noted that many of today’s economic and institutional systems were built for a different era and are struggling to keep pace with rapid technological change, rising inflation, and declining purchasing power.
“Inflation and purchasing power loss, that’s felt very locally by very ordinary people. Technology changes so fast that our institutions, our governments, our businesses, can’t adapt that fast enough,” he said.
“This is why we’re in this room today. Africa has an abundance of energy, we’ve got the right ingredients on this continent, and necessity sits in between all of that.”
According to the Talo Africa boss,Bitcoin’s value proposition extends beyond trading and speculation, describing it as a form of digital infrastructure capable of enabling trust and coordination without reliance on traditional intermediaries.
He noted that the current monetary system is facing increasing pressure as governments and institutions attempt to centralize and manage growing amounts of economic activity, driving up costs and inefficiencies.
The Talo Africa chairman compared Bitcoin’s evolution to previous transformative technologies such as language, legal systems, the printing press, and the internet, arguing that major technological shifts often take years or decades before their full impact becomes visible.
He noted that while Bitcoin’s price movements often dominate public discussion, the underlying technology is steadily developing as infrastructure for payments, digital verification, and global financial coordination.
Kirubi argued that Africa should focus on building and owning critical digital infrastructure rather than remaining a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
He pointed out that the continent continues to export raw materials, talent, and economic value while much of the resulting wealth is captured outside its borders.
According to Kirubi, strengthening local ownership of financial and technological systems could help African countries preserve purchasing power, retain talent, and capture more value from innovation taking place on the continent.
The three day Adopting Bitcoin Conference has brought together developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to discuss the role of Bitcoin and related technologies in financial inclusion, payments, digital infrastructure, and economic development across Africa.
