Alexey Salashny, founder and CEO of Super, envisions a future where DeFi is the invisible infrastructure that supports our global economy. A bold vision, undoubtedly. While Salashny builds his multi-product financial ecosystem from the UK, fueled by favorable fintech regulations, a critical question lingers: What about Africa? Can a continent filled with so much promise truly overlook the DeFi revolution? It’s about the commitment to reach for the possibilities frequently missed by legacy financial systems. I say, absolutely not.

Africa's Unbanked: A DeFi Opportunity

Think about this: millions across Africa are excluded from traditional banking. They often have no credit history and they tend not to have collateral. Further, they struggle to use branch networks, which prevents them from engaging with the broader formal economy. This isn’t merely an annoyance, it’s a stumbling block to opportunity, an anchor on ambition. That’s where DeFi, with its permissionless and decentralized nature, comes in. Imagine a smallholder farmer in rural Kenya. Through a DeFi platform, he’s able to access microloans, steering clear of predatory lenders and investing in higher-quality seeds. Imagine a small business owner in Nigeria who, through access to stablecoins, can make cross-border payments without overwhelming fees and red tape. This isn’t purely a technological story, but an empowering one. It’s not a top-down solution – it’s about equipping people with the tools to take control of their own financial destinies.

Let's be real. Hype is cheap. DeFi in Africa faces real challenges. Internet access is spotty and expensive. Digital literacy is low. Regulatory frameworks are unclear if not downright antagonistic. Going forward, we can’t simply parachute in DeFi solutions and expect them to magically solve for equity. It requires a nuanced, culturally-sensitive approach. That can only happen if we invest in education and infrastructure and implement supportive policies. It starts with an understanding that it’s not about creating solutions to African communities, but in partnership with them.

More than Tech: It's About Trust

The fundamental tenets of Super – security, efficiency, and scalability – should be non-negotiable. In Africa, where trust in public institutions is traditionally weak, security becomes even more important. People need to know that their funds are safe, that the platforms they're using are reliable, and that they won't be exploited. That translates to strong security practices, open and clear governance, and a focus on educating users. Super’s multi-layered audits and non-custodial asset management ensure the best practices are built in from the ground up. Yet, the greater task is in interpreting and implementing these principles to the African milieu.

  • Challenge: Limited internet access and digital literacy.
  • Challenge: High transaction fees can negate benefits.
  • Challenge: Regulatory uncertainty and potential for scams.

Building a Future That Includes Everyone

Salashny’s vision of DeFi as the invisible infrastructure is seductive. Invisibility shouldn't mean exclusion. Equity We can’t continue to build infrastructure that cuts people off or cuts them out. So, let’s make sure the people who’ve been left behind get treated first, so it works for everyone. Putting African communities first requires intentionality. Develop and invest in homegrown talent, and develop solutions that work for the continent’s unique challenges and opportunities.

Consider the possibility of SuperChain, Salashny’s proposed layer-1 blockchain that he says will be able to process more than a million transactions per second. If we can crack that nut, that same power can allow for micro-transactions and peer-to-peer lending. If so, it would greatly simplify cross-border payments for African SMEs and be a real game changer. Only if it's accessible and affordable. Only if it is adapted for the life and expectations of African users.

The question in reality is not whether Africa can afford to be left behind. The most important question is whether the global DeFi community can continue to ignore the vast continent’s immense potential. A continent overflowing with ingenuity, creativity, determination and a fierce hunger for economic inclusion. We all need to get past the hype and do the serious, hard work of creating real, sustainable solutions that will change people’s lives.

So, what can you do? Show your support for organizations who are helping lead the charge to bring DeFi to Africa. Provide technical support to projects that are developing solutions that have cultural relevance and applicability. Support policies that balance financial inclusion with safe technological and service innovation. Join us to ensure that Africa is not left behind in the DeFi revolution. Together, we can continue to help it realize its full potential and its many rewards! So let’s make sure that the global economy of tomorrow is a genuinely global one, and that everyone—even those at home—has their interests included.