A recent tweet from EddieKago on April 22, 2025, shines a spotlight on an exciting initiative: Base East Africa. This project, highlighted in the essay “Base is for Now” by XenBH, is making waves by combining blockchain technology with local knowledge to tackle real-world challenges in the region. Let’s dive into what Base East Africa is all about, why it matters, and how it’s paving the way for a more inclusive digital economy.

What is Base East Africa?

Base East Africa, as part of the broader Base ecosystem, is a dedicated team focused on empowering local builders in East Africa. Base itself is an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, meaning it’s a scaling solution built on top of Ethereum to make transactions faster and cheaper while maintaining security. The goal? To onboard the next billion users to the blockchain—starting with regions like East Africa that have historically been underserved by traditional financial systems.

The initiative, as quoted in EddieKago’s tweet, works by “combining onchain capabilities with local knowledge to create solutions that address regional challenges.” Onchain refers to activities and transactions that happen directly on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and security. By tailoring these capabilities to the unique needs of East Africa, Base East Africa is fostering innovation that resonates with the local community.

How Base East Africa Empowers Local Builders

According to a Devfolio profile, Base East Africa is rolling out several programs to support the region’s blockchain ecosystem:

• Education and Workshops: They’re offering introductory web3 courses, workshops on Base’s software development kit (SDK), and regular meetups to upskill locals. Web3 is the next generation of the internet, powered by decentralized technologies like blockchain.
• Mentorship Programs: Experienced developers are paired with newcomers to help them grow their skills, ensuring a pipeline of talent ready to tackle local challenges.
• Collaboration Platforms: Base East Africa is fostering partnerships between local startups, universities, and the Base community to spark innovation.
• Community Events: Think hackathons, webinars, and discussions on platforms like Discord and Telegram, all aimed at onboarding new users and teaching young people about blockchain.

One standout effort is their focus on accessibility. For example, they’re creating content in local languages like Swahili to make blockchain more approachable. They’re also helping local artists mint their creations as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are digital assets that can be sold or traded on the blockchain, opening up new revenue streams.

Addressing Regional Challenges with Blockchain

East Africa faces unique challenges, from limited access to financial services to the need for more scalable digital solutions. Base East Africa is tackling these head-on by leveraging Base’s infrastructure, which offers low transaction fees and seamless user experiences. For instance, they’re training communities on using smart wallets—digital wallets that simplify blockchain interactions—and gas sponsorship models, which cover transaction fees for users to make onboarding easier.

The potential impact is huge. According to the same Devfolio profile, Base East Africa aims to:

• Onboard thousands of new users and developers to the Base ecosystem.
• Position Base as the go-to Layer 2 solution in East Africa by supporting local startup growth.
• Develop a cohort of skilled blockchain developers through training and workshops.
• Provide East Africans with access to global opportunities in DeFi (decentralized finance), NFTs, and other onchain activities.

This isn’t just about tech—it’s about economic empowerment. By helping startups and students monetize their skills through global hackathons and micro-grants, Base East Africa is creating pathways to financial inclusion.

Why Base is the Right Fit for East Africa

Base, as outlined in XenBH’s essay on Bedrock, is designed with builders in mind. It offers fast and cheap transactions—typically under 1 cent—and is working toward sub-second transaction speeds with innovations like Flashblocks. This makes it an ideal platform for regions like East Africa, where affordability and accessibility are key.

Beyond the tech, Base’s mission is to build a global onchain economy that boosts innovation, creativity, and freedom. In East Africa, this translates to real-world impact. For example, Base has already captured 50% of stablecoin transaction volume globally in early 2025, and local currency stablecoins are being launched worldwide. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, making them less volatile and more practical for everyday use.

Base East Africa is also part of a larger global push. Base plans to launch community initiatives in over 20 countries in 2025, ensuring that regions historically excluded from financial innovation aren’t left behind.

The Bigger Picture: Blockchain for Social Good

The work of Base East Africa aligns with a growing trend of using blockchain for social good. Similar initiatives, like the South Africa Blockchain in Education Symposium, show how blockchain can transform education and skills development. By providing accessible tools and resources, Base East Africa is helping the region leapfrog traditional financial systems and embrace the digital economy.

Responses to EddieKago’s tweet reflect the excitement around this initiative. KuphDev expressed interest in subscribing to Bedrock’s newsletter to stay updated, while WEB3Shahram noted, “This is the kind of impact that makes Base more than just tech—it becomes relevant. Grounded in local realities, powered by global infrastructure.”

Looking Ahead

Base East Africa is a shining example of how blockchain can be a force for good when paired with local expertise. By focusing on education, accessibility, and community-driven solutions, they’re not just building technology—they’re building a future where East Africans can thrive in the global onchain economy. As Base continues to expand its global footprint, initiatives like this will play a crucial role in making the promise of blockchain a reality for everyone, everywhere.