The countdown has begun for the Africa Blockchain Festival 2025 (ABF 2025), set to take place in Kigali from November 7 to 9, 2025. Organized by Blockchain Association of Africa (BAA) in partnership with global and local stakeholders, the festival positions itself as the continent’s premier showcase of blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 innovation.
This year’s edition promises to be more than just a conference. The organizers describe it as a festival of ideas, innovation, and policy dialogue, with Kigali chosen deliberately as the host city to signal Africa’s readiness to become a global leader in digital finance and emerging technologies.
Building the road to Kigali
Preparations for the festival have been underway for months, with the “Road to Kigali” campaign highlighting Africa’s growing blockchain ecosystem. Updates from the official LinkedIn page reveal an ambitious agenda: not only will the event feature discussions on policy and adoption, but it will also provide a platform for founders, startups, and developers to showcase practical solutions being built on the continent.
Olubunmi Fabanwo, a key organizer, emphasized in an update that ABF 2025 is not “just another tech gathering,” but a continent-wide convergence designed to shape Africa’s digital future. “This is about creating space for builders, governments, and communities to meet at the same table,” he wrote.
Why Kigali, why now?
Rwanda has steadily positioned itself as one of Africa’s most forward-looking nations when it comes to technology. With strong government support for innovation, a reputation for stability, and a fast-growing startup ecosystem, Kigali has become an attractive destination for global conferences.
Hosting ABF 2025 in Rwanda is symbolic. While Lagos, Cape Town, and Nairobi have long hosted notable blockchain events such as the Web3 Lagos Conference and Crypto Fest Cape Town, ABF is envisioned as the first truly pan-African blockchain festival. Kigali’s central location and reputation as a neutral hub make it an ideal meeting point for innovators, regulators, and investors from across the continent.
What to expect at ABF 2025
The festival will run across three days, each with a unique focus:
- Day 1 – Policy and Regulation: Sessions with African central banks, policymakers, and regulators to discuss frameworks for blockchain adoption, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
- Day 2 – Builders and Startups: A spotlight on African founders, P2P platforms, and fintech startups building solutions for payments, remittances, and digital identity.
- Day 3 – Global Partnerships: Conversations with global Web3 firms, venture capitalists, and international organizations exploring investment and cross-border collaboration.
The organizers have hinted at a lineup of high-profile speakers ranging from African government ministers to executives from global exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and blockchain foundations. Exhibition spaces will also allow African startups to demo their solutions directly to investors.
The vision: Africa’s blockchain decade
ABF 2025 is being positioned as a continental blueprint for blockchain adoption. The theme centers on financial inclusion, with blockchain presented as a tool to address Africa’s $500 billion annual trade finance gap, cut remittance costs, and create more accessible financial services.
Organizers also emphasize the cultural dimension: ABF is meant to celebrate African creativity, from NFTs and digital art to local content ownership models. This holistic approach is designed to push blockchain beyond finance into culture, governance, and development.
“The future of Africa’s economy will be digital-first, and blockchain will be the trust layer that powers it,” reads one statement from ABF’s organizers.
A step beyond past conferences
While blockchain summits in Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town have set the stage for regional dialogue, ABF 2025 aims to consolidate Africa’s fragmented ecosystem into a single flagship platform. By bringing together diverse players, from grassroots developers in Kenya to policy thinkers in Nigeria and investors from South Africa, the festival seeks to create a united African voice in the global Web3 economy.
Crypto adoption in Africa is rapidly growing, with countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya ranking among the top markets globally for peer-to-peer transactions. Reports have it that sub-Saharan Africa processed more than $200 billion in crypto transactions between July 2024 and June 2025, making it the third-fastest-growing market worldwide.
With November drawing closer, anticipation is building. The planning committee continues to roll out updates under the hashtag #ABF2025, with teasers on panel discussions, confirmed speakers, and partner announcements. Kigali is preparing to welcome thousands of attendees from across Africa and beyond, in what could become a landmark event for Web3 on the continent.
For now, all eyes are on Rwanda, not only as the host of ABF 2025, but as the stage where Africa’s blockchain story could take its next decisive leap.
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