Today I had the honors to host @enockagbo1 @desmond41 and @james_jkat in my office in Accra Ghana to discuss and see how we can team up to work on the first ever Steem to Ghana Cedis (GHS) exchange platform.
To read more about how this exchange will work, @enockagbo1 has done a good job about it here https://steemit.com/steemit/@enockagbo1/merging-with-mtn-digital-money-system-mobile-money. This post will focus on what the plans are going forward.
Why I joined Steem
For this project to make sense, I need to start from why I joined Steem. I've been on Steemit for 18days now, I came on for two main reasons which I have outlined below. In my day job, I lead a team of 20, out of which 10 are engineers, hacking our startup with node js for the backend react js for front, python for our machine learning and we recently started using kafka for our queuing. I paused on actively writing code 3 years ago and took some love in growth hacking but recently I have been playing around with GO.
I am also an occasional day trader on Binance and I noticed that Steemit has showed up there for me that was interesting. Before I hodl any coin, I like to try and see if I will use it in real life, so I joined Steemit and the fun began.
I become a tech entrepreneur 8years ago because I wanted to build something that matters, change lives, become a source of inspiration for the younger generation and be able to buy an Island one day :). One of my pet projects I am working on is an exchange from BTC to Ghana Cedis (GHS) to allow people to easily buy and sell bitcoin. I believe in BTC so much that I think it will change the way we do business one day. This exchange I am working with 3 friends is suppose to make it easy for the people of Ghana to join the train as soon as we can. But when I joined Steem, I noticed something interesting. I noticed that the Ghanaian community was really strong and active so right there and then I spoke with my team to support Steem and BTC. My CTO for this project took a look at the Steem API and we agreed it was a done deal.
PS: If I become the president of Ghana one day, I will give 6 months tax free and full projection for Crypo currency companies that moves to and start their business from Ghana. Watch out for this space.
How we met @enockagbo1 and the team
5 days ago @enockagbo1 made a post https://steemit.com/steemitghana/@enockagbo1/ghana-s-first-steem-sbd-to-fiat-exchange-platform-under-development#@black-man/re-enockagbo1-ghana-s-first-steem-sbd-to-fiat-exchange-platform-under-development-20180219t060806047z about the same idea I am working on. I commented on it telling him, I was working on a similar thing and so we can work together. We started having baby chats on discord and eventually met to day to put down a plan today.
What is the plan and the way forward.
We agreed that I work with my team and release the app while @enockagbo1 and his team work on creating a community and bring more people on to Steem so when the app goes live we will have early users. This also means that all the people that @enockagbo1 @desmond41 and @james_jkat will signup on Steem will join a great community and be on the road to what I call financial independence. These dudes have awesome ideas on how they are going to bring people on to Steem. I hope they Steem about it. If I am the first to use the term (STEEM ABOUT IT) then I am trademarking it hehehe, just kidding.
The app will come in various stages.
Stage 1.
A responsive web app that every desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone user can use in 3 simple steps exchange their Steem/SBD to GHS via mobile money and bank deposit. Our business development lead has contacts with some of the biggest banks in Ghana since he has partnered with them on different projects and is taking the lead on this.
Stage 2.
A SMS base exchange which will allow non-smart phone users to also take part in the exchange. If someone is able to execute @ackza idea he wrote about here https://steemit.com/africa/@ackza/ideas-for-mobile-steem-sbd-and-solar-phone-mobile-banking-and-laptop-charging-stations-with-mtn-lumio-battery-kits-for-villages , then this part of the system becomes really useful.
Stage 3.
We will finally introduce Andriod and an IOS app that will also allow quick exchange from Steem to GHS
Stage 4
The final stage, where we introduce at least 3 ATM machines in Accra and Kumasi for Steem / SBD to GHS exchange using barcode reader. I have had to opportunity of studying one for BTC in Zurich last year.
Let me know what you guys think, all suggestions are welcome. Greater things are coming to #TeamGhana #TeamAccra
Thank you for the post. Do you think it is better to focus on the crypto-gov't cash transaction or better to bring all in your community onto crypto? Two reasons why I think crypto-fiat is a good area of focus 1) people are familiar with it; &2) stability. Are there reasons beyond those that I am missing? Ultimately I think humanity will be better off if everyone participates in the values of cryptoassets.
Thanks for commenting @john-robert . I agree with you on this statement "Ultimately I think humanity will be better off if everyone participates in the values of cryptoassets." But I believe that we need to tackle it from the point where people can see immediate value. To most people is about being able to easily cash out and not feeling like the money is trapped. Once humanity can easily cash out their crypto assets to fiat ... then the few will start to spread it by word-of-mouth. If we can get to a point where someone without access to internet can actively engage in crypto and be able to take out their money, then we are the tipping point of global freedom and financial independence. @ackza what is your view on this?
I love this idea! Lemme know how I can help you.
@iamrobotboy thanks for asking to help and I am glad you like it. Kindly join our discord channel for the project here we will let you know how you can contribute. https://discord.gg/3v2A4An
Mind if I join as well? I don't live in Ghana. But I think this is a great project.
Sure you may join... thanks
Yes great. I believe we will achieve great things for the Ghanaian community and the world as a whole.
@enockagbo1.. Yeah man, vim
If this is a communityincome project we shpuld put it on utopian.io. as a decentralized orga ization we shpuld strive to include the community in all aspects.
I understand yoy have a dev team @black-man but this projects code should be shared every stepnof the way for transparency.
This only applies if you intend for yesenia to be open source. (I think it should be)
Thanks @masterroshi, currently is not an open source project. I will discuss this with the team and see what they think about it.
That's really impressive. I believe its implementation will yield positive results. Great idea conception guys.
@boristy, definitely... if we work together we can move mountains. If you are interested in supporting the project, join our discord channel here ... https://discord.gg/3v2A4An
Glad to see such steong collaboration on this effort! #teamaccra will lend any support it can!
I look forward to meeting with you @black-man
Thanks @masterroshi for the support. more vim for #teamaccra
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Good plans for #ghana and team #accra. Will be glad to join make this a success. 18 days yet, more impact. Vim boss Kena
Thanks @fredkese
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@richforever... you are the man.
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