Unchained Ethiopia

Africa has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for blockchain adoption, with countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa leading in cryptocurrency usage and fintech innovation. Ethiopia, with its abundant renewable energy resources, young and tech-savvy population, and progressive digital policies, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend. The country’s renewable energy capacity, estimated at over 5,200 megawatts, presents a compelling opportunity for blockchain infrastructure, particularly Bitcoin mining, which can help monetize excess energy and stabilize the national grid.

Additionally, Ethiopia’s rapid digitization efforts, including the rollout of digital ID systems and mo-bile money platforms, create a fertile ground for Web3 applications. Decentralized finance (DeFi) could expand access to financial services for the unbanked, while blockchain-based solutions could improve transparency in supply chains, land registries, and public administration. However, despite this potential, significant challenges remain, including limited awareness among policymakers, regulatory uncertainty, and a shortage of local technical expertise in blockchain development.   

The Unchained Ethiopia Summit aims to bridge these gaps by fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration among stakeholders. Key objectives include raising awareness about Web3 technologies and their practical applications for Ethiopia’s economy, facilitating discussions on regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with consumer protection, and creating networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs and global Web3 leaders.

The summit will also highlight Ethiopia’s competitive advantages in the Web3 space, such as its renewable energy potential, growing tech talent pool, and strategic geographic location. By convening experts from government, industry, and academia, the event will explore actionable strategies to position Ethiopia as a hub for blockchain innovation in East Africa.

The summit is expected to catalyze the formation of a public-private working group focused on Web3 policy development. This group will serve as a platform for sustained dialogue and collaboration between key stakeholders, including government regulators, private sector leaders, legal experts, startups, and civil society actors. The working group will aim to identify key policy gaps, propose practical regulatory frameworks, and align national priorities with regional and global trends in Web3 and decentralized technologies.

In addition, the summit will host an indepth discussion on existing regulations and emerging challenges, bringing forward suggestions for legal and institutional reforms. This deep dive will explore the implications of blockchain, digital assets, smart contracts, and decentralized platforms on sectors such as finance, digital identity, intellectual property, and data governance. The insights generated from this session will inform the working group’s agenda and guide future policy-making efforts to ensure an enabling environment for innovation while safeguarding public interest. 

Polished Events will be providing event management support for Unchained Ethiopia.

Polished Events is an Ethiopia-based event, marketing, and communication consulting firm that is committed to delivering creative solutions throughout Ethiopia.

There will be a limited 50 free tickets.

Please contact Kal Kassa at kalkassa@gmail.com if you'd like to attend and we will do our best to allocate these tickets.