GM GM! Here’s your quick breakdown of what mattered between Sept 1–8.
1) Stablecoins uptake
- Ripple’s RLUSD lands in Africa. Ripple made its USD-backed stablecoin available through Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card last week, signaling a clear play for cross-border payments and treasury rails. This is both an enterprise and retail play. Let’s see how this shapes up in a USDT-heavy space!
- In another cross-border payments play, Yellow Card joined the Fireblocks Network ($10T in transactions processed globally).
2) ETHSafari is live
- ETHSafari (Sept 7–14) is underway. From Nairobi hackathons to Kilifi’s seaside finale, it’s part dev bootcamp, part cultural festival. If you’re building in Africa’s Web3 space, this is where partnerships are being forged right now. We’re cheering from the sidelines this time. 😉
- On the ground: I attended a launch event at the Blockchain Centre NBO on Friday (Sept 5). I loved the talk by Darlington who broke down the blockchain concept to the attendees in such a friendly way that I was immediately sold to the centre’s vision. I have always been a fan of Cardano but have clearly not followed up on development for a while, so it was neat to learn about Project Catalyst – a Cardano community where ideas/proposals are funded based on votes. I should definitely jump on it with my ADA!
3) Regulation watch
- South Africa’s FSCA issued a consumer warning on Sept 3 about scams impersonating TCEPMA CC (a South African insurance brokerage). It’s another reminder: verify who you’re dealing with, and check if platforms are on official registers before sending funds.
4) What this means (plain English)
- Operators: New rails like RLUSD + Fireblocks are corridor tests waiting to happen.
- Everyday users: Stablecoins are easier to access than ever, but stick to trusted on-/off-ramps. The scams haven’t disappeared.
- Builders: ETHSafari is your week to test, demo, and pitch. Think real-world problems people & regulators care about.
Market Watch: Price & Flows
What moved this week (4 PM EAT, Sept 9, 2025)
- Bitcoin (BTC): Around $112.7K, gaining nearly 1% in the last 24 hours and up about 1.6% this week as investors bet on Fed rate cuts easing.
- Ethereum (ETH): Holding steady at $4.35K, up slightly—market activity ramped up this week near the crucial $4.25K support level as traders brace for action.
This Week’s Picks
Videos and reads worth your time:
Ndindi Nyoro on non-traditional income in Kenya: Real talk at Nyeri CITAM Church by MP Ndindi Nyoro. He breaks down how Kenyans are making money outside the usual playbook. You know, beyond the plots of lands and flats. Refreshingly honest about risks and failures. Watch on YouTube
OpenAI moves into jobs
OpenAI is building an AI-powered hiring platform to rival LinkedIn, alongside certification tracks that could qualify millions by 2030. A glimpse at how AI is reshaping careers. We’re following this very closely and will keep you updated on the tips and tricks we unravel along the way. Tom’s Guide
Back next week. Still practical, compliant, and Africa-first.