[kictanet] [isoc_ke] BitHub: BLOCKCHAINS - Get in the Conversation and Perhaps Conversion..Digital Currency
Ali Hussein
ali at hussein.me.ke
Wed May 18 09:58:04 EAT 2016
John
Probably the most comprehensive and easily understood description and opportunity of Blockchain Technology I've seen or heard in a while!
Thank you.
Some concerns/comments:-
1. In 2014 42 major global banks joined a consortium to explore the Blockchain space. These include Barclays (which is incubating a Blockchain startup in a South Africa), Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, BNP Parabas, Societe General, Wells Fargo and others. Of note:- No African Bank is in the consortium. Axis Bank, an Indian bank is pursuing its own platform. As are a number of Indian IT and consulting firms.
Should we worry?
2. There seems at the moment to be a major concern in various sectors in Kenya about this new tech platform. The case of BitPesa, Kipochi and Lipisha is still fresh in my mind. What I'm concerned about is that if we don't quickly bring the regulator and other players upto speed on this new tech platform our claim to fame since the Mpesa heydays will be like continuing to brag about the discovery of the wheel.
3. How can we ensure that Kenya continues to be at the bleeding age of Fintech technologies by making Blockchain Technology ubiquitous? After all Kenyans have shown the affinity for digital money adoption.
4. How can we remove the fear of disruption by the current players? And get them on board thinking like scrappy startups? My deep suspicion is that the woes this technology is facing in the country is as a result of:-
a) A misunderstanding of Blockchain that it's a conduit for money laundering and Terrorist financing yet it's clear to some of us that BlockChains go beyond financial services and in fact WILL make transactions a lot more secure.
b) Fear of disruption. The thing about this is there just isn't any cure. It's simple. Eat or be eaten.
5. So while we lack regulatory direction we as a country need to move quickly to embrace BlockChain Technology just like we embraced M-Pesa and quickly put in place a regulatory environment to grow this space.
6. I'm sure Safaricom staffers are on this list. Shouldn't our Champion be at the forefront of this new dispensation?
Ali Hussein
Principal
Hussein & Associates
+254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
Twitter: @AliHKassim
Skype: abu-jomo
LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
Sent from my iPad
Ali Hussein
Principal
Hussein & Associates
+254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
Twitter: @AliHKassim
Skype: abu-jomo
LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
Sent from my iPad
On 18 May 2016, at 5:20 AM, BitHub Africa via isoc <isoc at lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
> Thanks Wangari, Eric and Listers for the Invitation.
>
> We at BitHub.Africa are a commercially Blockchain Accelerator that is driving the adoption of blockchain technology and solutions including Bitcoin across Africa. You can see what we do here http://BitHub.co.ke
>
> Blockchain to summarize is about the disintermediation of trust by using a shared public ledger of transactions that can be only updated by holders of tokens on that particular network. Blockchain is designed in a manner that it is very difficult to change previous transactions as everyone will notice the ledger is being tampered with and therefore any suspicious transactions will not be approved. You can already imagine what such a system can do for the Land Registry and also IFMIS considering the NYS scandal for example.
>
> Bitcoin is the most the secure Blockchain protocol, network and platform being more powerful than the top 500 super computers in the World. It allows the transmission of value over its distributed networked at nearly no cost, near instant from any part of the globe to another. So sending 1 billion Kshs over the Bitcoin networks costs the same as sending 10 Kshs over the network. I think the fee is about Kshs 2 at the moment. You can think of it as Digital Mpesa over the Internet but not governed by a Company like Vodafone but by distributed computers similar to how Bittorrent works. Its near impossible to stop this technology as subsequently it is becoming the Internet of Value.
>
> While M-Pesa turns your mobile phone into a "Bank Account", Bitcoin turns your mobile phone into a "Bank" meaning you are in actual possession of your own money & assets. Kids born today will find current banking systems very archaic just like we stopped sending letters through Posta because of Email & Whatsapp.
>
> At BitHub we offer consultancy services for organizations who would like to understand or rethink their governance/business models using Blockchain technology. This could be lenders, insurance or any financial technology startup looking to scale rapidly at low costs. Just yesternight we were at the launch of Tala formerly Mkopo Rahisi and they are already using blockchain tech to scale their lending app globally.
>
> We have published a feasibility study on Blockchain in Kenya & Africa here.
>
> I will leave you with a comprehensive blog post we just wrote on Blockchain titled The Blockchain Opportunity in Africa! Ideas, Concepts & Implementation?
>
> I look forward to all your comments here, let's grab this opportunity!
>
> Kind Regards,
> John K
> +254 725 274191
>
>
>
>> On Wed, May 18, 2016 at 6:16 AM, WANGARI KABIRU <wangarikabiru at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Warm Greetings Eric!
>>
>> Thank you for pointing out on BitHub. It would be exciting to know what they are up to.
>>
>> I have found their address from the link as bithubafrica at gmail.com (copied herein). Address BitHub Africa,P.O. BOX 76081 Space Kenya, 2nd Flr Timau Plaza, Argwings Kodhek Road.Nairobi 00508 Kenya
>> Let us see what we might discover from them.
>>
>> BitHub Team; A request you enlighten us on 'WhattsUp'', what is happening in the blockchain sphere in Kenya and your experiences - possibly as one fast and first in the market.
>>
>> Brian: Thank you for the link too. Tech talent and investment doesn't seem to be following this blockchain discovery...
>>
>> ('I argued before that 2016 will be the year that the development sector’s back end operations will take the front stage and become the focus of substantial innovation efforts. The current level of attention (or hype?) around the blockchain might be just an indicator of that – whether you are talking remittances or supply chains, social finance or refugee ID registration, cap and trade for emissions or identification in conflict zones.....London has a vibrant blockchain development and investor scene – the City of London has switched on to the possibilities and its proximity to London’s tech hubs is leading to the rapid emergence of a blockchain developer and startup community. But how can we firewall and apply some of that talent to the global development and humanitarian system? And how can we attract financial investment to build blockchain systems for development, a sector notoriously poor at investing in information technology directly itself?....) - Giulio Quaggiotto
>> http://diytoolkit.org/sprinkling-blockchain-magic-dust-exploring-use-cases-in-the-development-sector/
>>
>> Rosemary; Your take that blockchain is an improvement to the financial services sector takes me back to the heated discussions on Bitcoin/CBK and others.
>>
>> Kivuva; Your drift on usage of Blockchain for elections or in other words for other sectors in addition to financial services is where I see the greatest opportunity lies. What I find perplexing is that our Tech community has not gone into this in droves, creating for different industries. Or what are people working on,or we do not understand, find it worth or too risky?
>>
>> '...As often is the case, however, to date the rhetoric around the potential of the technology by far outstrips the practice.'- Giulio Quaggiotto
>>
>> I am yet to understand on the group called 'miners' in this Blockchain, what they do and how they make money - where the rubber meets the road! Hopefully by the end of the week I shall, and share. $&$$$$$ have a way to cause and attract interest.
>>
>> Thank you all for the ongoing enlightenment on this!
>>
>> Be blessed.
>>
>> Regards/Wangari
>>
>> ---
>> Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------
>> On Tue, 17/5/16, Eric Mugendi via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] BLOCKCHAINS - Get in the Conversation and Perhaps Conversion..Digital Currency
>> To: wangarikabiru at yahoo.co.uk
>> Cc: "Eric Mugendi" <emugendi at gmail.com>
>> Date: Tuesday, 17 May, 2016, 15:56
>>
>> There's Bithub, a hub
>> that's focusing on incubating blockchain startups
>> locally. http://techcabal.com/2016/01/14/space-kenya-launches-bithub/
>> On Tue, May 17, 2016, 2:11 PM Wangari Kabiru via
>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> wrote:
>> Happy Tuesday!
>> Would any of our Tech hubs be handling any
>> entrepreneurs doing this?
>> Otherwise, tuko mbali! And this is not
>> synonymous with the Kenya Silicon Savanna hype.
>> Blessed day.
>> Regards/Wangari
>> On May 17, 2016 10:44, Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu via
>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> wrote:
>> KenyaCoin sounds very interesting. The use of
>> blockchain technology is best viewed as an improvement of
>> the current financial systems rather than a competitor.
>> I'm convinced that it can tremendously improve financial
>> services. Thank you Wangari for the introduction of this
>> discussion.
>> Regards,
>> Rosemary
>> Koech-Kimwatu Tel: +254
>> 718181644Skype: Rosemary
>> Koech-Kimwatu
>>
>>
>> On Mon,
>> May 16, 2016 at 9:38 PM, Baiju Shah via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> wrote:
>> Hi
>> Wangari,
>> Many thanks for the
>> notes on the understanding of theBlock Chain and
>> we are very interested in the distributed ledger technology
>> as a means of exchanging trading and financial information
>> from a b2b perspective.
>> We are looking to kick off an
>> R&D project on developing some key transactional areas
>> especially on dealing with cross boarder trade and the
>> application of using open ledgers.
>> Thanks,
>> Best
>> Regards,BaijuTelemedia Africa
>> Ltd.
>> On Monday, 16 May
>> 2016, Wangari Kabiru via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> wrote:
>> Happy Monday!
>> Pray you are well.
>> Today I have learnt on Blockchains and I am
>> delighted to share of. Learnt from Ashis Gadnis - BANQUAPP.COM and Ric
>> Shreves.
>> Any persons in this community in the
>> field?
>> The last time this discussion was here it was
>> CBK and Bitcoin rundowns and the Ministry. Globally a lot is
>> happening.
>> The discussion is beyond financial services
>> into data management, humanitarian data and refugee
>> transfers services...and more.
>> This community needs to have sharp
>> deliberations on this at this year's IGF.
>> <<< start notes>>>
>> BTC4D @ ICT4D on 16/05/2016
>> 'The blockchain is the new black..'
>> First overlay is the web
>>
>> Second is blockchain - trust layer
>>
>> Challenge old ways, disrupt governance and centralised
>> authority for enforcing transactions
>> What is;
>>
>> A block chain is a distributed ledger via peer-to-peer
>>
>> Chain of digital signatures
>>
>> Protocal for exchanging value over internet without an
>> intermediary
>>
>> A technology that allows people to exchange trust over
>> transactions - Bank of England
>> Critical elements in old times is trust.
>> A block chain is another type of database for
>> recording transactions - one that is copied to all
>> computers
>>
>> Blockchain can be more than digital currency eg Asset
>> tokenisation - transaction metadata used for
>> transactions
>> Structure;
>>
>> Data stored in structures called blocks.
>> Elements; Header, Content - validated list of
>> assets
>> 15M - No. of Bitcoins in circulation
>>
>> 20B - Maximum no.of Bitcoins (2140), algorithm - manage
>> inflation (unlike Ksh, $)
>>
>> $56M - 24hour Turnover of Bitcoins
>>
>> $746 M - Ethirium, 2nd Digital Currency
>> Volatility of Bitcoin 1.24%
>>
>> 2013 +
>>
>> 2014 -
>>
>> 2015 +
>> Other Blockchains;
>>
>> Best known are public; Litecoin, BitShares, Dogecoin,
>> Namecoin.
>>
>> Others are private
>> Types; unpermissioned, permissioned
>> Newer ones;
>>
>> Ethereum, Microsoft BaaS - Blockchain as a Service
>> Blockchain can be as a;
>>
>> Platform - build others on it
>>
>> Software
>> What is happening;
>>
>> R3 working with 40+ banks
>>
>> Visa working on an independent proof of concept
>>
>> Citi has 3 blockchains and own digital currency
>> (Citicoin)
>>
>> SEC, USA Stock Exchange
>> The players you should know?
>>
>> R3
>>
>> Hyperledger
>>
>> Ethereum - an app platform
>>
>> Microsoft Azure BaaS - flexible
>>
>> Ripple
>>
>> Bitcoin is what is well known
>> <<< end notes>>>
>> Be blessed.
>> Regards/Wangari
>>
>>
>> --
>> Baiju
>> Shah_______________________________________________
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>> (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and
>> institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform
>> in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT
>> enabled growth and development.
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