Stakeholders Push for Policy Dialogue and Real-World Use Ahead of Adopting Bitcoin Conference
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 12 – Stakeholders in Kenya’s digital asset ecosystem are ramping up calls for policy dialogue, consumer education and real-world application of Bitcoin ahead of the 2026 Adopting Bitcoin Conference set for later this month in Nairobi.
The conference, scheduled for April 24 through 25 at the ASK Dome with a community field visit on April 26, is expected to convene regulators, developers, investors and grassroots adopters at a time when Kenya is advancing a regulatory framework for virtual assets.
Industry players say the gathering is designed to bridge the gap between policymakers and innovators, ensuring that emerging regulations reflect on-the-ground realities.
“Kenya is at its defining moment when it comes to virtual asset regulation,and this regulation should not be built in isolation, it should be built with continuous engagement,” said Kimberly Sandra, co-founder of Bitika and a Bitcoin policy researcher.
“We need to have dialogue between consumers, regulators, and service providers to be able to format a framework that actually works for the Kenyan citizen.”
Organisers say the event will also spotlight practical use cases, moving beyond speculation to demonstrate Bitcoin’s role in everyday transactions and community economies.
“Adopting Bitcoin is one of the many series that have been happening,and the 26th will have a visit to a real life circular economy, where we will see the real impact of Bitcoin in communities,” said Sarah Mucha of Afrobit Kabira, one of the event organisers.
Kenya’s experience with mobile money is seen as a key enabler for adoption, with stakeholders noting that familiarity with digital transactions has lowered barriers to entry.
“Kenya is uniquely placed in terms of Bitcoin adoption, simply because we have M-Pesa,we have been transacting using our phones,” Sandra added.
Developers are already building infrastructure to integrate Bitcoin into Kenya’s payment ecosystem, targeting both local users and international visitors.
“We’re piggybacking on what M-Pesa built and injecting this global money, called Bitcoin, into their system so that anyone in the world can come to Kenya and spend their Bitcoin,” said Jason Grunstra,co-founder of Tando.
At the grassroots level, stakeholders argue that Bitcoin is increasingly being used as a tool for financial inclusion, particularly among unbanked communities.
The conference will also tackle key risks including fraud and volatility, with ecosystem players emphasizing education as critical to safe adoption.
“We hope to unravel the mystery that is Bitcoin from a policy standpoint, from a builder standpoint, from a community educator standpoint,” said Nambuyiselo Murage, co-founder of Minmo,a bitcoin builder.
Stakeholders further argue that Bitcoin’s appeal lies in its potential to address inflationary pressures and provide a global standard for value exchange.
With invitations extended to regulators and the broader public, the Adopting Bitcoin Conference is positioning itself as a key platform to shape Kenya’s digital asset future anchored on dialogue, inclusion and practical use.