African gamers can now rejoice as they unlock the power to earn and transact Bitcoin while indulging in classic titles like Counter-Strike. Zebedee, a fintech and payments processor focused on the gaming industry, has joined forces with Bitnob, a renowned crypto exchange platform, to deliver seamless payments and gaming reward options across Africa through the Bitcoin Lightning Network (LN).
Zebedee and Bitnob unite: A powerhouse partnership for Africa’s gaming scene
It is essential to note that this collaboration will enable users in Africa to earn Bitcoin through various Zebedee-powered apps and games. Zebedee’s innovative platform operates as a second layer within games, empowering developers to replace ambiguous in-game point rewards with satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin. Through the alliance with Bitnob, gamers can now easily convert these satoshis into local currencies, such as the Nigerian Naira.
Zebedee’s Chief Strategy Officer, Ben Cousens, revealed that the partnership was inspired by game developers envisioning Bitcoin as the ultimate reward for tournaments and other gaming incentives. “If I’m Activision Blizzard or EA Games and I have 30 million players of my games in Africa, and I run tournaments or giveaways, I cannot pay those players on fiat rails — it is too expensive. I am limited to the U.S., and I lose money from loss of engagement. Try sending $0.01 to these territories on another rail,” he said. “This is about the $180 billion video games market, not play-and-earn or crypto gaming.”
The Bitcoin Lightning Network takes Africa by storm
Africa has become a hotbed for the Lightning Network, largely due to its ability to facilitate microtransactions. Bitcoin Senegal founder Nourou explained that “microtransactions are our economic reality,” which is why he and numerous other African builders and developers are exploring the LN.
Africa’s young demographics and digitally native population make it an ideal market for these innovative technologies. Cousens added, “We’ve seen consistent evidence of high demand for our platform across the African continent, where the purchasing power of Bitcoin is considerably higher than markets like the U.S. and Europe.” He further highlighted that the integration of the Lightning Network and gaming is a natural evolution of the interactive entertainment landscape.
The union of gaming and cryptocurrency through the Bitcoin Lightning Network is set to reshape Africa’s gaming ecosystem, providing players with a fun, creative, and lucrative gaming experience. Also, the collaboration between Zebedee and Bitnob promises a bright future for African gamers, opening doors to a world of rewards and possibilities.
