Conference Kicks Off Under Cloud of Concern
The Blockchain Africa conference began on a rather tumultuous note in Johannesburg. As if planning for a major crypto summit wasn’t challenging enough, the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic threw a pretty large wrench in the works. With just thirteen confirmed cases in South Africa by March 11, organizers were faced with a world of uncertainty.
Government Response: Caution is Key
The South African government, although dealing with relatively low infection rates, decided to take a proactive approach. Drawing lessons from the harsh realities faced by countries like China and Italy, they made it clear that health is a priority. They might as well have put up a sign saying, “Better safe than sorry!” But among the cautionary measures, the event saw some major disruptions.
Speakers Missing in Action
Despite being a crypto summit, it appears that some speakers vacated faster than you can say “blockchain.” Keynote speaker Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, opted out entirely, leaving attendees slightly puzzled and more than a little disappointed. Meanwhile, Tone Vays, a heavyweight in the cryptocurrency space, bravely soldiered on, making his appearance after arriving a little earlier than the rest of us would have thought advisable.
Potential Fallout on Crypto Markets
During a panel discussion, Vays wasn’t shy about addressing the elephant (or virus) in the room. He shared his two cents on how the global turmoil could disrupt cryptocurrency markets:
“I could see that as being pretty bad for Bitcoin. If there is a huge economic disruption, companies close and people stop investing.”
Vays’ assessment hit hard—if you lose your job, the last thing you’ll be buying is Bitcoin. People know that; a gourmet dinner can only happen if your pantry isn’t bare.
Attendance Takes a Hit
The expectations for attendance were high, with organizers hoping for over 500 delegates. However, reality delivered a bit of a sobering knock: by day one, only about 230 had verified their registration. Event organizer Sonya Kuhnel admitted that even before the conference, they had been eyeing the situation cautiously. Richard de Sousa, founder of AltCoinTrader, commented that the lower turnout could be linked directly to the outbreak, suggesting that they didn’t want to be the conference headline for all the wrong reasons.
Technology to the Rescue
Tanya Knowles, the Binance South Africa Country Manager and MC for the event, spoke about the innovative measures taken to ensure the show goes on. She remarked,
“Luckily with technology we were able to go ahead with the conference, with some speakers choosing to send in pre-recorded presentations.”
Because honestly, in this day and age, if you can’t use tech to dodge a virus, what are we even doing? And there’s nothing like a digital audience to fill up those empty chairs!
Braving the Odds
Then there’s Frisco d’Anconia from the African Blockchain University, who traveled straight from Mauritius, unbothered by the harrowing headlines surrounding him:
“I’m not worried about the situation. I think it’s being overhyped.”
His commitment speaks volumes; in crypto and commerce, sometimes you have to dance in the fire. But then again, that dance could turn into a very awkward tango depending on how this pandemic plays out!
+ There are no comments
Add yours