Africa. A continent of rich and rich-story talent, bright culture and the world’s youngest and fastest growing population. You’d be wrong to imagine that the average African has their head in the clouds when it comes to high-tech finance. You’d be dead wrong. What if I told you that the secret to unlocking this potential is hiding in broad daylight? Or in cryptos with a value of less than 1$, lifting up local communities and fostering innovative economic development!

I'm not talking about meme coins here. I’m talking about projects that really provide value and address real problems. Together, we’re building the foundation for a more equitable and dynamic future. Forget everything you’ve heard about Lambo dreams, because this is all about empowerment and doing things differently.

Are Africans Ready for Crypto?

So the question isn’t whether Africans are ready for crypto, but rather how crypto can be better designed to serve African needs. Traditional financial systems have historically excluded large parts of the population. High access fees, lack of physical access, and tedious application processes are all the expectation, forcing millions to remain unbanked and underserved. In many respects, crypto—as a sovereign currency alternative, thanks to its borderless nature and relatively lower transaction cost—becomes an even more appealing replacement.

A farmer in rural Kenya selling his produce on a digital marketplace. A new startup entrepreneur in Nigeria who remains credit constrained. Those entrepreneurs are now wholly locked out of the global economy. This is where crypto — particularly when paired with cutting-edge solutions such as asset tokenization — can help dismantle these barriers.

Here are seven projects under $1 that I believe are worth watching, not just for their potential returns, but for their potential impact on the African continent:

  • Qubetics (TICS): Focusing on real-world asset tokenization, particularly for cross-border transactions. Imagine tokenizing real estate in Central Asia, making it accessible to investors in Africa. Early presale success indicates strong interest.
  • Monero (XMR): Privacy is paramount, especially in regions with unstable governments or where financial surveillance is a concern. Monero's untraceable transactions offer a vital layer of security.
  • AAVE: A major player in DeFi, AAVE can facilitate decentralized lending and borrowing, providing access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
  • Immutable X: NFTs are more than just digital art. They can represent ownership of assets, intellectual property, and even land. Immutable X's scaling solution makes NFTs more accessible and practical.
  • Celestia: A modular blockchain framework that allows developers to build custom blockchains optimized for specific use cases. This flexibility is crucial for tailoring blockchain solutions to the unique needs of different African communities.
  • SEI: Blockchain efficiency is key to mass adoption. SEI's Layer-1 blockchain aims to solve inefficiencies in traditional protocols, making transactions faster and cheaper.
  • SUI: A high-performance blockchain designed for scalability and speed. This is essential for handling the growing volume of transactions as crypto adoption increases.

Tokenizing Hope and Opportunity

Qubetics, in particular, catches my eye. Their visionary goal to tokenize real-world assets is precisely what Africa needs. Now, picture those same farmers forming a cooperative to tokenizing their communal land. This new method of tokenization unlocks access for them to get capital from funders at every corner of the world. This isn’t just a focus on capital raising, this is on community empowerment and agency and building control over community assets.

The concept of cross-border transactions becoming far more efficient, particularly for those having business within Central Asia, should be a real game changer. Imagine the opportunities this creates for African entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses beyond their borders. Real estate, art, commodities – imagine them all easily and securely traded on the blockchain. It’s a dream of a deeply globalized and inclusive financial system. As for the presale, those numbers look very robust. With more than 511 million tokens sold and $16.8 million raised, it’s clear how much potential people see in this project.

I know, I know, it sounds idealistic. As compared to what alternative – the status quo over idealism?

Privacy, The Unexpected African Advantage

Monero, the dominant privacy coin, has a very different – and quite surprising – story to tell. In the West we often frame privacy as an issue of data leaks and targeted advertising. That can be imperative, because in many contexts in Africa, privacy is important for personal security.

For example, imagine you live in a country governed by an entrenched corrupt elite, or where the government constantly monitors your financial activities. In a context like that, being able to transact without putting your name on anything can be a lifeline. Monero’s technology – ring signatures, stealth addresses, and bulletproofs – gives you that important layer of protection. It empowers workers and businesses to act with confidence that they will not be persecuted or preyed upon.

This isn't just about hiding illicit activities. It is about protecting these vulnerable populations and empowering them to have equal access to participate in the economy without endangering their lives. This is what financial freedom looks like in its purest form.

This isn't just about investing in crypto. It’s about investing in a future where finance isn’t just transactional – but is more inclusive, more accessible and more empowering. Do your research. Understand the risks. Mangrove’s Global Overview. But you’d be foolish to underestimate the ability of these sub-$1 cryptos to revolutionize the African continent. Cut through the hype and you’ll understand the real-world impact they can have.

Learn more about other projects such as Qubetics, Monero, AAVE, and all of the projects featured. Join their communities. Engage in the conversation. Do join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable future for Africa. The time to act is now.

Explore projects like Qubetics, Monero, AAVE, and the others mentioned. Join their communities. Engage in the conversation. And let's work together to build a brighter, more equitable future for Africa. The time to act is now.