Block, Inc., a global technology leader specializing in financial services, has announced the winners of the TBD Hackathon. Held as part of the Africa Bitcoin Conference, the event aimed to foster innovation, creativity, and advancements in payment solutions across Africa. Emmanuel Kufre from Nigeria clinched the grand prize of $15,000 in Bitcoin for his groundbreaking decentralized wallet application, Blink, designed for freelancers.
A Showcase of Talent and Innovation
The TBD Hackathon provided developers with an opportunity to tackle key financial challenges on the continent, including limited access to banking services, high transaction fees, and inefficient cross-border payments. Participants, working solo or in pairs, were tasked with leveraging TBD’s open-source money protocol, tbDEX, within a sandbox environment to build cutting-edge payment applications.
“The level of creativity and technical expertise showcased during the TBD Hackathon has been truly inspiring,” said Angie Jones, Global VP of Developer Relations at Block. “The winning teams have demonstrated a profound understanding of the challenges facing Africa’s payment systems and developed solutions with transformative potential. We’re excited to see how these developers continue to innovate in payments and technology.”
The Winning Solutions
1. Blink: Decentralized Wallet for Freelancers
Emmanuel Kufre’s Blink emerged as the grand prize winner with its innovative decentralized payment processor for freelancers. The app enables freelancers to accept global payments seamlessly, addressing a critical need in Africa’s $28 billion gig economy. Blink is currently in beta testing across five countries and impressed judges with its focus on empowering freelance professionals.
2. tbDEX Go: Simplifying Payments for Travelers
Andrew Glago and Eloke Ikiliagwu’s tbDEX Go secured the second prize of $10,000 in Bitcoin. This application connects Africa with a local payment solution tailored for travelers and tourists, bridging the gap in financial accessibility for international visitors.
3. Igbigi: Private and Instant Money Transfers
Achego Tamunobelema and Fabari Agbora’s Igbigi claimed the third prize of $5,000 in Bitcoin. The app enables users to perform instant app-to-bank and app-to-app money transfers while prioritizing privacy, offering a secure and efficient alternative to traditional payment systems.
Expert Judging Panel
The projects were evaluated by a panel of experts, including:
- Aaron Suplizio, Tech Partnerships, TBD
- Adewale Abati, Staff Developer Advocate, TBD
- Angie Jones, Head of Developer Relations, TBD
- Ari Coleman, Product Manager, TBD
- Chris Maurice, CEO, Yellow Card
- Ebony Louis, Developer Advocate, TBD
- Kirah Sapong, Senior Software Engineer, Square
- Rizèl Scarlett, Staff Developer Advocate, TBD
- Tania Chakraborty, Senior Technical Community Manager, TBD
- Tony Tom, Head of Product, TBD
- Will Wilkinson, Head of Policy, TBD
The panel highlighted the participants’ technical expertise and creative approaches in addressing Africa’s unique financial challenges.
Supporting Financial Inclusion
Farida Bemba Nabourema, Convener of the Africa Bitcoin Conference, emphasized the significance of the hackathon in fostering Bitcoin adoption in Africa. “This event showcased immense talent and creativity within our community,” she said. “The innovative solutions presented have the potential to address pressing challenges such as financial inclusion, cross-border payments, and transparency.”
Through the TBD Hackathon, Block reaffirmed its dedication to open-source technologies and developer empowerment. Although the TBD business line has been wound down, its work on decentralized identity continues through the Decentralized Identity Foundation. Developers interested in contributing can explore Block’s ongoing efforts on its Open Source GitHub organization.
As the continent’s premier event for exploring Bitcoin’s potential, the Africa Bitcoin Conference played a pivotal role in facilitating this hackathon. By bringing together experts, enthusiasts, and innovators, the conference fosters collaboration and learning, driving efforts to build a thriving Bitcoin ecosystem across Africa.
Conclusion
The TBD Hackathon at the Africa Bitcoin Conference has highlighted the immense potential of African developers to drive innovation in financial technology. From enabling freelancers to access global payments to simplifying transactions for travelers and ensuring privacy in money transfers, these groundbreaking solutions address critical needs across the continent. As Africa continues its journey toward financial inclusion and digital transformation, initiatives like these play a pivotal role in shaping the future of payments.
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