The full list of speakers to participate in South Africa’s first Bitcoin conference has been announced, with the event due to kick off next week.

Disrupt Africa reported in February the Bitcoin Africa conference was launched, in a bid to accelerate the uptake of Bitcoin in South Africa.

Organiser Theo Sauls told Disrupt Africa Bitcoin in particular presents a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs, and said the conference hopes to encourage a wave of Bitcoin-related startups in South Africa.

In March it was announced South African entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Vinny Lingham will be the keynote speaker at the conference.

The full list of speakers to present at Bitcoin Africa has now been announced, and includes founder of South African Bitcoin exchange ICE3X, Gareth Grobelar; co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bitcoin remittance platform Elizabeth Rossiello; Jonathan Smit, founder of the first payments processing service in South Africa to accept Bitcoin, PayFast; among a host of other international and local experts.

The speakers agree that Bitcoin should be a key focus of startups in Africa, and encourage entrepreneurs to attend the conference to share in the insights and experience of other attendees as to the opportunities and challenges facing Bitcoin, and Bitcoin adoption by companies in Africa.

“Bitcoin is a low-cost, open-source technology that gives start-ups and entrepreneurs immediate access to a robust, scaleable transactional software. BitPesa would never have been able to grow as fast as we have, from a base in Nairobi, without using such cutting-edge available technology that has connected us to so thoroughly to businesses and trading desks around the world,” said Rossiello.

“The African continent is littered with opportunities for entrepreneurs who can provide solutions to problems where transparency and decentralised trust is necessary. Blockchain technology affords us the opportunity to build decentralized management systems guaranteeing fairness and equality throughout the supply chain, which can empower everyone to achieve better futures and afford all the enjoyment of the resources Africa provides,” Grobler said.

The Bitcoin Africa conference takes place in Cape Town on April 16 and 17. Tickets are available to purchase online.