Crypto Projects Flock to Akon at Blockchain Summit in Dubai 

Senegalese American singer and songwriter — Akon, made an appearance at the AIBC Asia Summit 2022 in Dubai. The music legend attended quite a few discussion panels and many exclusive VIP meals to meet blockchain project leaders and engage players in the industry.

In detail, Akon sat in on dinners and a private breakfast to meet and listen to pitches from many blockchain projects at the summit. As a huge believer in the power of crypto and blockchain, Akon’s heart of gold also believes in the people who want to make the world a better place with their blockchain projects just like Akon’s own crypto project — Akoin.

Specifically, Akon expresses his love for Africa and his vision for it. Akoin launched with the intention of unifying Africa as a whole continent with one cryptocurrency. Looking back, Akon shares the story of how this idea came to be: he once saw an elderly woman in Africa pay a vendor with mobile credits instead of the local fiat currency — this was his Eureka moment.

Since then, Akon has worked hard on the Akoin project. First, the project built a smart city in Senegal. Next, he aims to do so in Uganda. More than anything, Akoin aims to empower a marketplace of services and tools to fuel entrepreneurial dreams.

Thus, Akoin connects citizens, businesses, and activists from all over the continent. During a panel at the summit, Akon says, “Africans are givers by nature.” He also adds, “Africans are the most resourceful people on the planet. So, we’re all born entrepreneurs.” In particular, he says this when he spoke of constructing the smart city. He says that everything he needs is all available right there in the continent.

Another thing Akon stresses is how more people should begin to accept and adopt cryptos. He says that most people are unaware of what it is when it is so simple. In fact, he says that is likely because people go to coders to understand crypto. Often, coders go off and make things complicated and that’s when “we don’t understand what the fuck it is.”

He concludes, 

“It’s simply digital currency that’s encrypted.”   

Akon also encourages the crowd to get out of their comfort zone and be brave enough to be uncomfortable. He sees this as the only way to grow. Adding on, he says that understanding the fundamental philosophy is what’s important here, not the nitty-gritty details of the technology.

Above all, Akon encourages listeners to keep things simple and make sure that at the core of any project is goodwill. He talks about how he went from a star who first did good for his family, then his friends, until he finally came to the realization that he can do more for all of humanity.

At the heart of his message at the AIBC Summit is “to do something bigger than yourself”.