Fintech leaders, banking executives, telecoms, regulators, and key players in the stablecoin and blockchain ecosystem will gather in Nairobi on May 14–15, 2026, for the fourth edition of the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference 2026, powered by OKX. The conference is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants from across Africa and beyond.

Now in its fourth year, KBCC has grown into one of Africa’s most influential platforms for conversations at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy.

The 2026 edition is themed “Stablecoins, Payments and the Future of Africa’s Digital Economy,” reflecting the industry’s shift from experimentation to real-world application.

Stablecoins particularly Tether (USDT) have emerged as one of the most practical and widely adopted use cases of blockchain technology globally.

In 2025 alone, USDT processed over $13 trillion in transfer volume, averaging $35 billion in daily transactions and serving an estimated 576 million users worldwide.

This positions stablecoins as a viable alternative to traditional payment systems in terms of speed, transparency, and efficiency.

Across Africa, stablecoins are increasingly being used for cross-border payments, remittances, treasury management, and merchant settlements.

USDT usage across the continent grew by 18.6% year-on-year in 2025, with Kenya among the leading markets.

“Africa, with mobile money for the last 15 years, has been at the forefront of digital wallet commerce. The addition of stablecoin flows is a natural extension of what has become commonplace with African consumers,” said Dave Evans, CTO of PawaPay.

“Adoption will be led by businesses solving real problems on the ground, particularly innovators building in Africa’s most dynamic economies.”

This shift is being driven not just by technology, but by real business needs: faster settlement, lower costs, and seamless cross-border operations.

“The true ‘stablecoin revolution’ isn’t about the technology itself; it’s about real-world utility and institutional-grade access,” said David Nandwa, CEO of HoneyCoin.

“We are building a world where geography is no longer a financial barrier.”

Financial institutions and fintech firms are also integrating stablecoin infrastructure into their operations. Banks are exploring the technology for faster settlement and liquidity management, while fintechs are using it to reduce foreign exchange costs and enable 24/7 payments.

“As the largest crypto exchange in Africa by trade volume, we are excited to expand our presence in Kenya and partner with KBCC,” said Ben Caselin of VALR.

The appeal of stablecoins lies in their ability to combine the stability of fiat currencies with the efficiency of blockchain networks offering near-instant settlement, lower transaction costs, and improved transparency.

Beyond efficiency, stablecoins are also strengthening credibility and compliance. Tether says it has worked with over 310 law enforcement agencies across 64 countries, assisting in more than 2,000 cases and freezing over $4 billion in illicit funds.

Reports indicate sanctions-related illicit activity in stablecoins dropped by 60% between 2024 and 2025, signaling a maturing ecosystem.

As adoption grows, platforms like KBCC are becoming critical spaces for engagement between regulators, builders, and industry leaders shaping the sector’s future.

“We are proud to participate in KBCC for the fourth year,” said Felix Macharia, CEO and co-founder of Kotani Pay.
“It has evolved into a leading platform for innovation, dialogue, and collaboration across the digital economy.”

The KBCC 2026 programme will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, regulator roundtables, and breakout sessions focused on payments, policy, infrastructure, and capital.

Discussions will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, and technology providers to explore how these systems can scale responsibly across African markets.

Building on the success of the 2025 edition which attracted 1,633 attendees, over 70 speakers, and more than 8 million in hashtag reach this year’s conference is expected to further cement its position as a key platform shaping Africa’s digital financial future.

Notable speakers include Tom Wang, Sitah Lang’o of SWIFT, Daniel Mainda of the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority, Apollo Sande, and Peter Mwangi, among others.

The conference is sponsored by OKX, Tether, VALR, HoneyCoin, Bitget, Kotani Pay, Luno, YoguPay, and PawaPay, among others.