During a fireside chat with festival convener Olubumi Fabunmi in Nairobi, venture capitalist Tim Draper said Africa could leapfrog traditional finance by using Bitcoin for everyday transactions where banking and currency conversion are limited.

He noted that his research showed people across the continent already using Bitcoin to connect with the global economy, a factor that influenced his decision to purchase Bitcoin at a US Marshals Service auction.

Draper proposed that governments permit optional Bitcoin‑only business environments, described as “walled gardens”, where firms can transact in Bitcoin while software automatically calculates and remits taxes.

He argued that such zones would let businesses experiment with digital finance without requiring a wholesale shift away from conventional currency, offering a pragmatic path toward broader digital infrastructure.

Draper also suggested that governments and corporations consider holding a portion of Bitcoin as a hedge against currency volatility, positioning the cryptocurrency as both an investment and an operational tool.

He warned that centralized financial systems can impose high costs and poor service on users with limited alternatives, making decentralized options worth considering.

In addition to his Bitcoin advocacy, Draper offered three priorities for African founders: building trust by delivering on promises, delighting early customers, and creating products that generate word‑of‑mouth referrals.