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Bitcoin gains traction in West Africa with educational drive

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Bitcoin (BTC) adoption in West Africa is dominated by Nigeria, the crypto powerhouse and the region’s economic engine. But against a backdrop of anti-French sentiment, Bitcoin educational efforts are also bubbling away in French-speaking West Africa.

Senegal recently opened its first physical Bitcoin exchange and education center called Bitique, and the country of 17 million people will host another Bitcoin Forum in the capital, Dakar, in December, where pseudonymous local Bitcoin advocate, known as Nourou, runs an independent Bitcoin node beamed from space.

In Benin, a country of 13 million people to the west of Nigeria, the Bitcoin-only Bitcoin Mastermind conference takes place next month. The first of its kind in the country, Bitcoin Mastermind unites Bitcoin entrepreneurs and crypto enthusiasts from homegrown groups and businesses such as Izichange, GoesPay and Flash, and it offers locals a space to learn about Bitcoin.

Cointelegraph spoke with Nourou, the founder of Dakar Bitcoin Days and Bitcoin Senegal, and Loïc Kassamoto, the founder of Bitcoin Mastermind, to better understand the Bitcoin and West African crypto evolution — or revolution.

A rising tide lifts all boats

Countries in French-speaking West Africa are subjected to the West African CFA franc currency, described by the Economist as a “colonial hangover.” The Senegalese are vocal in their criticism of the currency, with some Bitcoin advocates, such as local crypto enthusiast and entrepreneur Mama Bitcoin, explaining that it’s pretty normal to complain about the currency — an implicit criticism of post-colonial French policy in the region.

Anti-French sentiment has historically existed in the region but has recently manifested in public demonstrations. Neighboring Mali recently dropped French as the nation’s official language — a law in place since the country won its independence in 1960.

In Niger, to the east of Mali and north of Nigeria, a recent military coup represented a significant setback for French President Emmanuel Macron and France’s military strategy in the region. Well-known French newspaper Le Monde commented that the coup was a “new heavy blow” for France’s military strategy in Niger’s Sahel region.

A groundswell of alternative currency initiatives is occurring across French-speaking West Africa. Growing numbers of Senegalese are turning to Bitcoin as a savings tool and a means of exchange, while in Benin, Bitcoin Mastermind’s Kassamoto told Cointelegraph the number of Beninois turning to Bitcoin is also on the up. 

Magazine: Bitcoin in Senegal: Why is this African country using BTC?

In the West, much financial discussion and education tends to take place online. However, the emphasis in West African countries is on physical meetups and real-life interaction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nourou said that discussions about Bitcoin and money were transferred and confined to online platforms such as ClubHouse and X (formerly Twitter), but more and more physical spaces have opened up post-pandemic.

Nourou opens Bitique in the Dakar business district. Source: Nourou

Indeed, as Kassamoto explains, one of the keys to unlocking deeper levels of financial education and demonstrating how West Africans could use a decentralized currency such as Bitcoin is through interactions in the real world:

“Bitcoin conferences, meetups and shops provide opportunities for education, outreach and direct interaction. Conferences and meetups bring the community together, share knowledge and exchange experiences.”

Norou opened Bitique, which is Dakar’s first physical Bitcoin store for buying and selling cryptocurrency. He explained that in addition to trading services, there will also be educational programs for people to learn about Bitcoin in person: “Training courses will be around 10,000 francs [$16] for two or even three hours of training.”

The in-person training goes hand in hand with a series of classroom sessions that Bitcoin Senegal conducts nationwide called the “Baol Digital Kids” program, which teaches kids how to use Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.

The kids in the video who received and sent their first satoshis via the layer-2 Lightning Network can spend the money at a growing number of merchants listed on the open-source Bitcoin tool BTCmap.org. In just 18 months, Dakar has developed from one small Bitcoin office to tens of artisans, restaurants and cafés accepting the cryptocurrency.

Nourou recently received a Blockstream Satellite kit, which, once set up, will allow him to run a Bitcoin node that will be protected against network interruptions. The internet service can sometimes be patchy and unreliable in West Africa. According to Blockstream, the satellite kit ensures that any connected Bitcoin full node “will not be isolated or partitioned,” with blocks streaming continuously for the node to verify.

Across a few borders in Benin, Kassamoto, along with his peers, runs what he believes to be one of Benin’s first Bitcoin nodes. 

He explains that Bitcoin adoption has increased, but it comes with risks due to its association with crypto:

“Bitcoin adoption in West Africa is greatly helped and hindered by cryptocurrencies.”

Kassamoto said that the money-making side of crypto attracts more and more people into the “crypto universe,” but crypto scams, loss and rug pulls taint Bitcoin’s appeal. The promise of crypto riches drawing noobies into Bitcoin is not necessarily good.

“It’s toxic for Bitcoin because these people are very quickly disappointed with their loss and associate it with Bitcoin because they haven’t even had time to understand the difference between the two,” he said.

Kassamoto said that “Bitcoin, not crypto,” is what the West African community should understand.

There are more Bitcoin meetups and, therefore, more opportunities to demonstrate what many Bitcoin exchanges and thought leaders have preached for some time: that there could be a difference between Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market.

Related: Worldcoin cryptocurrency project suspended in Kenya

The Central African Republic, which made headlines in 2022 for adopting Bitcoin as legal tender, was elevated and then dropped by large swathes of the Bitcoin community. After adopting Bitcoin, it announced its own crypto token, Sango Coin, while the country is now experimenting with tokenizing real-world assets such as farmland.

In Ghana, to the east of Benin, another large Bitcoin and educational conference will occur this year. Strike CEO Jack Mallers and Human Rights Foundation chief strategy officer Alex Gladstein will speak as part of a Bitcoin educational drive in West Africa.

Cryptocurrency

Popular Trader Dumps 5 Altcoins to Focus on Meme Coins With 100X Potential

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TL;DR

  • One well-known crypto trader sold TIA, ONDO, and other holdings to chase major gains in the meme coin niche – a move that sparked both support and skepticism across the crypto community.
  • Despite Bitcoin’s dominance above 64%, some analysts believe an altseason is near, with low-cap tokens such as HNT and ONDO expected to lead the charge.

Cashing Out

While talk of an upcoming altseason continues to buzz across the crypto space, popular X user Crypto Beast has decided to offload some of their bags. The trader revealed the sell-off occurred on July 7 and included the tokens Celestia (TIA), Ondo (ONDO), Ethena (ENA), Quant (QNT), and Pyth Network (PYTH). 

It is worth mentioning that all of the aforementioned have posted some gains on a 24-hour scale. TIA leads the charge with a spike of around 10%, while the rest have recorded more modest increases. 

The crypto enthusiast claimed the sold altcoins have utility but questioned whether this is needed in the space. “They’re good for one thing: making VCs richer,” they added.

Crypto Beast has now shifted focus to hunting meme coins with 100x potential. Some X users commenting on the post supported the decision, stressing the importance of profit-taking. Others, though, wondered why the trader would prioritize meme coins, considering the hype for these tokens had significantly reduced in the past several months. 

Recall that the sector was booming towards the end of last year, with its total market cap surging past $120 billion. Currently, the capitalization stands at less than $60 billion (per CoinGecko’s data).

Was This the Right Time?

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to outperform its rivals, and as of this writing, its market dominance is beyond 64%. However, multiple industry participants believe the altcoins have yet to catch up with the biggest cryptocurrency and steal the show.

BTC Dominance
BTC Dominance, Source: CMC

X user Chiefy predicted that the next altcoin “super-cycle” will start in July. “This time, low caps will pump 175x and ignite the most powerful altseason,” they forecasted. The analyst thinks Sui Network (SUI), Helium (HNT), Render (RENDER), Filecoin (FIL), and Ondo (ONDO) are among the top contenders for explosive rallies. 

It’s worth noting, though, that SUI should not be placed in the same ‘low-cap’ category, as it’s the 15th-largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of over $10 billion.

Carl Moon – an X user with over 1.5 million followers – chipped in, too. He claimed that the altcoins “will go parabolic” once the combined market capitalization of all digital assets (excluding BTC and ETH) soars above $1.15 trillion. Currently, the figure stands well below $1 trillion. 

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GUNZ Announces $GUN Token Expansion to Solana

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[PRESS RELEASE – Robinson Point, Singapore, July 7th, 2025]

GUNZ, the L1 blockchain ecosystem that powers the groundbreaking AAA game Off The Grid (OTG), today announced the expansion of its $GUN token to the Solana blockchain. This strategic move brings part of the $GUN token’s circulating supply to Solana, enhancing accessibility for U.S. (and global) users while reinforcing GUNZ’s leadership in the blockchain gaming sector. On the 10th of July $GUN lands on Solana, bringing lightning-fast access and next-gen infrastructure to a whole new wave of gamers and community members.

Strategic Alignment with Solana: A Multi-Chain Vision

Under the bold banner, “$GUN is Coming to Solana,” GUNZ is embracing Solana’s high-speed, low-cost blockchain infrastructure and robust ecosystem to amplify its multi-chain strategy, aptly summarized as “Too Big for One Chain.” This move represents the latest step in a clear multichain strategy, setting the stage for additional expansions to other prominent blockchains in the future. The bridging process to Solana will be facilitated by LayerZero, a leader in blockchain interoperability and seamless cross-chain transactions.

Currently, $GUN is available on multiple blockchains and platforms, including GUNZ Layer 1 and AVAX C-chain.

This alignment radically increases accessibility to the token and unlocks new opportunities for partnerships, campaigns, and community engagement by leveraging Solana’s global reach.

To celebrate this milestone, GUNZ will launch a limited-edition Solana-themed NFT content pack. Details on how to claim this exclusive offering will be announced soon, adding excitement for the growing Off The Grid community.

Off The Grid and the GUNZ Ecosystem: A Clarified Vision

GUNZ is renowned for Off The Grid, the first AAA game with an onchain economy, available across platforms like Epic Games Store, Xbox, PlayStation, and soon Steam. Within OTG, the $GUN token serves as a utility token, enabling players to purchase in-game items, engage in asset trading, and participate in blockchain-powered gameplay interactions. Following the Solana integration, players will be able to deposit Solana-based $GUN directly into their in-game wallet, enabling fast, reliable, and convenient transactions within OTG’s immersive digital economy.

With over 17 million wallets registered in the GUNZ ecosystem, GUNZ is poised for strong growth. This milestone will boost ecosystem activity and token utility.

Leadership Perspective

“Launching $GUN on Solana reflects our long-term commitment to building a truly global, player-first ecosystem,” said Vlad Korolov, CEO at Gunzilla Games. “Solana’s speed and scalability allow us to reach new communities with greater efficiency and reliability. This is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a major step toward making blockchain gaming seamless, inclusive, and ready for the mainstream.”

Looking Ahead

GUNZ is set to share additional updates in the coming weeks, including details on the highly anticipated Steam release of Off The Grid and further global token availability. As the ecosystem gears up for mass adoption, the crypto community is encouraged to stay tuned for announcements that will solidify GUNZ’s position as a trailblazer in blockchain gaming.

Risk & Regulatory Disclosure

$GUN is an in-game utility asset. It has not been registered, qualified, or approved as a security, capital-markets product, or digital payment token in any jurisdiction. No regulator has reviewed this material. This release is not an offer, solicitation, or investment advice, and $GUN is not offered to U.S. persons. The token’s value may fall to zero and is not covered by investor-compensation schemes (including those under EU MiCAR). Always verify eligibility before acquiring or using $GUN.

About Gunzilla

Founded in 2020, Gunzilla Games is an independent AAA video game developer and publisher behind Off The Grid — a groundbreaking battle royale now live on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Gunzilla is also the creator of GUNZ, a gamer-first blockchain ecosystem, and the proud owner of Game Informer, the largest gaming media outlet.

Driven by a passion for innovation, Gunzilla is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming—delivering cutting-edge experiences that empower players, developers, and the industry as a whole.

For more information, users can visit GunzillaGames.com.

Official X of Gunzilla Games – https://x.com/GunzillaGames

Official X of GUNbyGUNZ – https://x.com/GUNbyGUNZ

Official X of Off The Grid – https://x.com/PlayOffTheGrid

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Ethereum Eyes 16.7M Gas Cap Under Vitalik Buterin’s New Proposal

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstätter have proposed a ceiling on how much gas a single transaction can use, and aim to tighten security while preserving efficiency as the protocol matures.

The draft proposal, EIP-7983, sets a 16.77 million gas limit per transaction. Interestingly, this is a significant change from the current architecture, where a single transaction can consume an entire block’s gas allowance.

Developers argue this open-ended design exposes Ethereum to denial-of-service (DoS) risks, inconsistent network load, and slower block verification, especially as the chain supports increasingly complex DeFi and zero-knowledge applications.

EIP-7983

By introducing a hard cap, Buterin and Wahrstätter seek to enforce more predictable resource usage without significantly disrupting typical user activity, noting that most transactions currently fall well below the proposed threshold.

Transactions of more than the 16.77 million gas cap would be rejected during validation. Such a move would ensure oversized transactions cannot enter blocks, while the block gas limit itself would remain adjustable by validators under existing consensus rules.

The authors frame the move as part of a broader effort to simplify Ethereum’s base layer and improve network reliability, which essentially echoes Buterin’s recent calls to streamline protocol design inspired by Bitcoin’s minimalist ethos.

Easing zkVM Constraints

Developers working on zkVMs and parallel execution engines have highlighted difficulties in handling transactions with unpredictable gas sizes. They believe a fixed ceiling could ease engineering constraints and allow better subdivision of workloads across threads.

The cap is also expected to reduce the risk of any single transaction monopolizing block resources, thereby improving consistency in execution times and block propagation. While the proposed limit may require some large deployments to split transactions into smaller segments, it aligns with Ethereum’s longer-term goal of supporting modular and provable systems while maintaining user experience.

EIP-7983 builds on the now-stagnant EIP-7825 but with a lower ceiling. The proposal is currently in draft status and is now open for community discussion as developers assess its practical impact on the network.

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