As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, Daniel Kibel, Co-Founder of CMTrading, discusses its potential performance in years to come. 

“The cryptocurrency market has experienced huge rallies recently. And while there's not a lot you can count on in online trading, cryptocurrency being volatile is one thing that has been pretty constant over the last two years. Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced its biggest rally in the past few months, as the ‘premium’ cryptocurrency breached the psychological milestone of hitting the $50,000 level in August. Just shy of three months later (at the time of writing), Bitcoin is now sitting at over 66 000. Similarly, rival cryptos like Ethereum and Ripple have also seen huge price increases to around $4,700 and $1.25 respectively. 

“It’s worth mentioning that the crypto market, especially Bitcoin, saw record highs and disastrous lows earlier in 2021. Despite its tumultuous performance, though, there remains a tremendous amount of wealth to made with the total crypto market valued at more than $2 trillion. 

Trading crypto in South Africa 

“South Africa has seen a rapid increase in the number of crypto assets traded locally. In June 2021, the South African treasury revealed that there are at least two million local retail investors in crypto, amounting to $2 billion in transaction volumes. 

Given crypto’s history of volatility, the current increase doesn’t guarantee a long-term reversal. As a spike in prices ripples through the crypto market, many traders are asking – ‘Is now a good time to invest in crypto?’  

What’s driving the recent crypto rally? 

“Bitcoin, and in fact the entire crypto market, has proven to be an asset that’s prone to huge price movements based on rumours and events. PayPal recently announced it would allow customers in Britain to use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This provides more legitimacy for the entire crypto market and ultimately begins a chain reaction of buying, driving up the price of all digital coins. 

Is Bitcoin worth investing in? What does it take to make a profit?  

“Bitcoin is like any asset. If you buy it and it goes up, you make a profit, and if it drops you lose money. The issue is the huge price movements seen in Bitcoin – often thousands of dollars. If the low is about $47,000 and the upside high is $68,000, that's a really big move for the majority of traders. It does, however, mean you need a lot of capital. That said, we’ve seen daily movements from $5000 to even $10,000. This makes crypto a huge risk, though there are many people making money.  

“Sadly, a lot of people are still losing large sums of money, because even though they've correctly judged the price direction, they lose out due to funding. For instance, if you were to buy Bitcoin earlier in August, you would’ve bought it at $48,000 and it went up to a high of around $68,000. That’s good news, right? But if it falls all the way back down to $47,000 (which is not impossible), that’s an obvious loss. There are always big moves in the crypto market and it's something that people need to be aware of.  

Just how risky is crypto trading? 

“Personally, I much prefer trading currencies or indices because they're more stable. They don't move in the huge amounts that crypto does. But it's super high risk and sees extremely high returns. Due to the size of a single Bitcoin, with the value of it currently nearing $67,000, you need a lot of money just to be able to hold a position in the crypto market.“ 

Will we see widespread adoption of crypto?  

“I believe it's already happening. The future is without any question crypto. What remains to be seen is whether it’s through Bitcoin or some other crypto asset. I don't think there's any question that crypto is the future.  “We’re seeing the adoption of crypto by some of the largest financial companies in the world. It's clear that when one starts, people believe in a snowball effect; if one starts then, every other company will start accepting crypto. 

Anything to note when trading crypto 

“Be very careful and come to terms with the huge volatility in the market. You must be patient and understand that you might not have enough money to hold a position if the trend goes against you. It's a good market and traders are making a lot of money. You need to have enough capital so that even when the market goes against you, you can still hold your position.”  

Follow CMTrading on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. 

For more information on CMTrading, visit their official website at www.cmtrading.com or call +27105008026, and one of their friendly staff will assist you. 

CMTrading is the brand name of Global Capital Markets Trading Ltd (A Seychelles company, company no. 104785)

As it stands at the moment, Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to the adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

View Bitcoin Price to South African Rand https://www.sashares.co.za/bitcoin-to-rand/

Africa’s interest in the currency is not translating into real-life use, and there are a variety of reasons why this is the case.Crypto experts are noticing something that could change this current start of cryptocurrency and there are even economists who are predicting that these currencies will be the next big economic innovation that will have a positive disruptive influence.The many advantages that the average African will experience are the exact reason why widespread adoption of Bitcoin is a likely reality.

Open a Free Bitcoin Wallet here https://www.luno.com/en/signup?utm_source=sashares&utm_medium=affiliate

1. Pegged against the dollar

 Even the strongest currencies in Africa struggle against the US dollar, the primary currency in which Bitcoin is traded. The Rand, in particular, is struggling more than ever, depreciating as the country tries to solve its current economic woes by simply creating more. Many Africans are looking for a way to add more value to their money and by converting cash into cryptocurrency, or by taking the extra step and mining it themselves, they can do just that. 

2. Instant payment between people

Awaiting payment slows down businesses and often some of the biggest banks on the continent have a delayed payment protocol while they do offer instant payment at an additional cost. Instant payment benefits both the payer and the payee and with cryptocurrency, this aspect is greatly beneficial to e-commerce in particular, which in emerging economies can go a long way towards encouraging entrepreneurship

3. Secure encrypted wallets More than 2 million people already have a secure Bitcoin wallet, which means there are already 2 million people ready to trade. Unlike the risks involved with cash and card transactions, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are safe to transact with and cannot be stolen or lost.

4. Bitcoin is fast becoming a part of many stock and wealth portfolios

Bitcoin and similar currencies are being used by all kinds of traders to diversify their portfolios and in most cases, they are enjoying a fairly good return on their investments. For many traders, Bitcoin has become an investment alternative it generally remains profitable. Global Stocks hasn’t outperformed bitcoin in 10 years

5. Africa already uses instant mobile payments Africans are no strangers to mobile currencies, which are just one step away from cryptocurrencies. Zimbabweans use EcoCash for just about all of their payment needs, continuing to buy and sell even though the country’s currency has collapsed. The framework is for the most part already in place for cryptocurrency to swoop in and make its mark. 

6. Bitcoin is down 60% from its all-time high price

This means that there has possibly never been a more affordable time for Africans to invest in Bitcoin. Past trends have shown that Bitcoin normally picks up again, and despite what the naysayers believe, the currency shows no sign of disappearing completely, or becoming financially nonviable, any time soon.

7. Supply and demand

Unlike other currencies which tend to supply a nearly limitless amount of notes and coins, Bitcoin is governed by a supply and demand set up. There are only 21 million Bitcoins in existence and demand has the power to drive up the currency value

8. Crypto is becoming mainstream with Bitcoin in the forefront. 

Although not everyone knows or understands the complexities of these currencies, if you were to ask anyone what cryptocurrency is, their answer is likely to be Bitcoin. This is because Bitcoin has become the name synonymous with cryptocurrencies of all kinds and when people hear that there is money to be made, they take an interest.

9. Bitcoin is decentralized and not governed by any government institution. This is arguably one of the most appealing things about Bitcoin. A decentralized currency of this kind protects users from bank collapses, bank fees and various bank policies that affect the value of their currency or determine how and to whom they may make transactions. A decentralized currency is also untouched by geographical borders and will enjoy cheaper international transactions. This type of currency is also unaffected by both inflation and deflation because it doesn’t belong to one single country.

10. Bitcoin is unaffected by global recessions The global economy is on the brink of collapse as a massive amount of debt and economic downturn characterize many economies. Numerous economists are expecting a crash bigger than that of 2008 to come sooner rather than later. centralized currencies are certainly in the firing line when this happens, but the decentralized cryptocurrencies are at the moment the safest option for anyone wanting to protect their wealth.

Leading cryptocurrency solutions provider, UVO Group LLC, set to revolutionize the gaming industry with the launch of “The World’s Premier Crypto Gaming Platform” where gamers earn Coin for playing games.

The gaming platform has resonated with the South African public seeing thousands flock to join this unique gaming opportunity. This high demand has driven the company into looking to establish regional operations in Cape Town in 2020.

UVO Group LLC has reiterated its goal of using the blockchain technology to change the world with the launch of GameProfits.io, a blockchain-based gaming platform that will disrupt the gaming industry. This is in addition to the launch of the UVO Coin, a product of 2 years of hard work, diligence, and investment of time and millions of dollars.

The online gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors driving blockchain and cryptocurrency. Game developers are creating their virtual currencies, inspired by the new generations of digital-savvy gamers. Millennials or so-called Generation X are two economically active demographics with more interest in cryptocurrency than any other of which many of them love to play online games. However, the gaming industry seems to be lagging in the adoption of the technology, a narrative that UVO Group LLC is looking to change.

The soon-to-be-launched gaming platform will allow crypto enthusiasts and online gamers to enjoy a one-of-a-kind gaming experience but could also create many slumdog millionaires. GameProfits.io is the first project from UVO, and the “first of its kind” gaming community will comprise of Play4Pay games, where players earn real crypto by merely playing games. The platform uses in-game assets that can be purchased and exchanged across all games on the network using cryptocurrency.

GameProfits.io is particularly unique as it pays individuals while they have fun playing their favorite games and is also accessible for free across the globe. The gaming platform has already been likened to Steven Spielberg’s smash hit film launched in 2018 called Ready Player One.

UVO Coin is also part of the UVO Group LLC family that forms part of the group’s Blockchain Accelerator Program. This allows for investment in some of the most promising blockchain start-ups and transforming them into tomorrow’s market-leading technology companies.  UVO Coin raises investment money through the sale of its own cryptocurrency, and the value of the coin increases as consumption increases and profits are generated from the ecosystem.

The Beta Launch of the Gaming Platform is scheduled for the 9th of September 2019 with the official launch stated for the first day in 2020.More information about Uvocoin.io, gameprofits.io and other fantastic projects from UVO Group LLC can be found on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

DoshEx, the South African Digital Asset Exchange, and global blockchain-based payment pioneer Pundi X, today (4 April) announced a strategic partnership to bring cryptocurrency  to high street retailers and local consumers. In a first for South Africa’s retail market, XPOS, the Pundi X blockchain-based point-of-sale devices and XPASS cards for cryptocurrency transactions are to be deployed at selected sites across South Africa in a co-branded roll-out with DoshEx. Blockchain-driven point-of-sale technology enables merchants to digitize their payment infrastructure on the blockchain while consumers transact in cryptocurrency in a fast, efficient and convenient manner. Blockchain – a tamper-proof, cryptography-based technology – establishes trust of the transactions among various parties. Cryptocurrency transaction within the Pundi X payment ecosystem is a hassle-free method that promotes financial inclusion as XPASS-holders will have their own financial history of the transactions on XPASS card and the associated XWallet app without the necessity for having a bank account. Rapid acceptance is envisaged as the process resembles credit-card transacting with which consumers are familiar. To enable crypto transacting, the XPASS is simply tapped on an XPOS device.

Zac Cheah, CEO and Co-founder of Pundi X Labs, commented: “XPOS is the easy, affordable access point into crypto for mainstream retailers and consumers. “Many big businesses already access the crypto benefits of trusted record-keeping transactions. Now, an XPASS card loaded with crypto enables ordinary people to embrace the crypto-future, including millions of unbanked South Africans. “Our partnership with DoshEx enables us to tap into the early-adopter market at pace as this Bryanston-based innovator has a proven track-record as a digital exchange and developer of blockchain-based solutions for leading corporates, including the South African arm of Virgin Money.” DoshEX CEO Alex de Bruyn noted: “It was essential to roll out trusted and proven technology as our objective is to rapidly build South Africa’s first point-of-sale cryptocurrency network. This is why we partnered with Pundi X. “This global technology player has deployed payment ecosystems in numerous markets, including developing economies such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Nigeria.. Its international representation stretches from London to Jakarta to Tokyo. Pundi X therefore has the resources to support a rapidly growing network in line with our vision of demystifying crypto and turning it into a generally accepted payment option.

“We believe XPOS will rapidly become your crypto ATM and transaction-enabler at your local coffee shop or high street store.” Adoption is easy. Participating merchants install XPOS technology on the counter and provide the XPASS cards, activated for a once-off fee. Cryptocurrency is preloaded by the vendor. Users then transact on XPASS. Alternatively, users can buy XPASS online from DoshEX at www.doshex.comand load crypto online. The XPOS strategy calls for phased roll-out of XPASS cards and devices, with 5000 cards available for the first wave of early adopters.  The partners will announce details of the deployment footprint as the technology becomes available in different geographic areas. De Bruyn added: “The ability to readily transact in crypto is a vital step in digital currency development. Soon it will be the norm for the public to buy, hold and sell crypto. Borderless transactions and transfers will be easy, without the high costs traditionally associated with these activities. “In the crypto-future consumers will transact in their crypto currency of choice, perhaps linked to dollars or euro. Crypto’s future is bright and Pundi X has provided the first light switch.” 

-- ENDS --

About DoshEx: DoshEx is a South African company pioneering the local development of crypto-tokens. Related DoshEx products and services include tokenised solutions for corporates and SOEs, safekeeping of funds and the design and deployment of blockchains. This digital exchange is the brainchild of a group of entrepreneurs with a background in payments and crypto-currencies. Among the innovators is Alex de Bruyn, who is young, articulate and passionate about the tokenised future. He is also DoshEx’s media spokesman. Website:  www.doshex.com Contact: Alex De BruynTel: +27 11 468-5236 

About Pundi X: Pundi X is a leading developer of blockchain-powered devices, including the world’s first point-of-sales (POS) solution enabling merchants and consumers to do transactions on the blockchain in physical stores.  Pundi X is also the developer of the first, fully-functional blockchain phone, the XPhone.  Its POS device, the XPOS, has been shipped to over 25 countries including Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA; 100,000 devices are being targeted for rollout to the global retail market by 2021.  The company is headquartered in Singapore. Its international presence includes offices in Jakarta, São Paulo, Seoul, Shenzhen, Taipei, and Tokyo.  Listed as one of the top 50 innovative fintech startups in 2018 by KPMG and H2 ventures, the company is also a member of Singapore Fintech Association, Fintech Association of Hong Kong, ACCESS, Swiss Finance and the Fintech Association.  It is also a founding member of Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia. For more information, please visit https://www.pundix.com

A new, highly-efficient mobile blockchain developed in Africa is set to acquire large-scale consumer adoption by 2021

Monday, 23 October 2018: DéMars (DMC), a mobile money platform and new blockchain protocol for the young emerging market is lite, fast, scalable, private, secure and virtually free. It’s also the first of its kind developed in Africa.Until now, various technological issues have held back large-scale consumer adoption of blockchain technology. Many early adopters have abandoned Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum due to poor user experience.

DéMars provides a new infrastructure, the beta version of which will be revealed by the end of Q2 2019.The new technology aims to deliver financial services for the 1.7bn primarily young, unbanked adults in developing markets like Sub-Saharan Africa, of whom two thirds own a mobile phone. The “Banking as a Service Platform” will reduce the high cost of remittances to and within developing markets and enable access to simple lending, insurance and savings products. This is made possible via a smart contract escrow feature, where you can place a classified advert on the network and trade goods, services and cash with others. The solution responds to the resultant demand after global products failed to provide any real utility for the African consumer since they aren’t designed for a data constrained environment. In addition, global products don’t support micro transactions and rely on credit card payments.

The Founder of DMC, a South African now residing in Mauritius, Shaun Burrow, a banker by profession, states: “I started researching the entry-level market, and I was simply blown away to learn that 1.7 billion adults don’t have access to basic financial services and to learn that in the remittance space, families are paying about 45 billion US dollars a year in fees on the funds they are sending home. This is money being diverted from the poorest of the poor. The cost of payments to Sub-Saharan Africa and within Sub-Saharan Africa are the highest in the world, they range from 10 - 20 % of the money being sent home. It’s simply an unjust tax on ordinary, hardworking people.”

A mobile first for Africa

DéMars has worked out a more efficient way (versus other protocols like Bitcoin and Ethereum) to transfer data and validate transactions. The key innovation is a novel blockchain protocol which leverages a hypercube distributed hash table (similar technology to that used in file sharing speeds up the network and allows it to scale efficiently.All transactions are completely private as they are only stored on your mobile phone as unlike in the case of bitcoin or Ethereum it is not necessary to download the entire blockchain, which is a complete waste of data. There is also no centralized or decentralized servers as the network is stored and “lives” on the users’ phones. This means it’s completely distributed and free of censorship.

Best of all, the network and application are free and it is owned by its users. All transactions are virtually free too. All you need to access it is the native currency, DMC.

Only 10 Billion DMC, the cryptocurrency, will ever be issued, so there is a limited supply. The project is currently pre-selling 8 Billion coins to raise funds for further development with an initial selling price of €10 (R170) for 1000 coins. The price will increase by 10% for each round of 500m coins sold.Once deployed, entrepreneurs and developers will be able to build apps and offer services on the network too.

Trade local, pay global

The new digital currency falls under all three categories of digital currency. It has transactional uses, like Bitcoin. It’s the native currency of a platform, like Ethereum, and it’s has utility as it is designed to fulfil a specific task, like Ripple

A new global currency is under construction

The new currency has features that cross multiple traditional forms. In evaluating this new currency, we should rethink everything. Technology is fundamentally changing financial interaction and the new peer to peer decentralised currencies, including DMC, are taking the lead in this transformation. This is a currency you own and you control. No bank or government can take it away from you and you can choose to exchange it with whomever you please.

“The current financial infrastructure is like an old road, full of potholes, tolls and dilapidated petrol stations. DéMars is digging the tunnels and laying the sleepers to build a new railway line - in fact, it’s more like a hyper loop. And DMC is the electricity which will power the new system. It’s a new high-speed train with better and more convenient stations,” concludes Shaun Burrow, Founder of DMC.  

ENDS 

Editor’s Note

About DéMars

DéMars is a next generation blockchain protocol. The infrastructure is designed to reduce data trans-fers and energy consumption. The network's design enables it to run on decentralised mobile phone nodes, whilst maintaining a high level of cryptographic security and protection from double-spending. The protocol is designed for micro-currency exchanges and payments in a distributed and decentralised marketplace. As the network grows, through use of our Application, the technology can be extended to informal trades in goods and services, micro-lending and to insurance con-tracts.

For all press enquiries please contact:

Mika Stanvliet | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 081 534 6237 

The digital coin has revolutionised the world of finance. Designed to be transferred digitally between counterparties, cryptocurrencies are well suited to investors who are keen on technology and the currency markets.  But what about the ‘lay person’?  Many of us don’t know what cryptocurrency is and if there is a future in it.

Daniel Kibel, Director of CM Trading gives us some insight into cryptocurrency.

“The definition of crypto is ‘something concealed’ and that is exactly what we are dealing with here, cryptocurrency is just that – it is virtual and as such it is very difficult for people to get their heads around.  We are so used to going to the bank for our money and trading in shares that have a tangible asset behind them, but crypto has turned this all on its head. 

“Cryptocurrency is not regulated as yet and everything is hidden and controlled by the users.  We are dealing with digital currency.  As this is such a foreign concept to most people, we have initiated a specific cryptocurrency trading programme to provide the correct support and guidance to the trader to ensure that they are aware of the highs and lows of investing in this exchange.

“While digital currencies - such as Bitcoin - are most certainly the future of trading and even eventually of banking, it is important that people understand the intricacies of the resource before you delve in. 

“If we look at the very basic and probably one of the first virtual currencies – the electronic wallet – it has taken years for individuals to understand the advantages of using this method of payment.  Families in South Africa no longer have to send cash to their loved ones over the border, they just use electronic money and even grandparents, with a phone, have access to funds - it is a whole new world and it is working!

‘’Investing in cryptocurrency is similar to any other investment and money can be made daily when trading correctly - once the potential investor is aware of that, the more return they will see.  The concern with investing in any cryptocurrency is the unknown; which is why it is so important to have a partner that knows the market and has access to the latest prices and the latest trends.  Most significantly, it is important that the investor themselves understands the market and what they are getting themselves in to. 

Depending on the cryptocurrency you choose – and the public is spoilt for choice - Bitcoin, Dash, Buzzcoin, Gincoin, Criptoreal, ETH and hundreds more -  each has their own investment value.  Some offer initial investments as little as 10 cents (but then the returns are much lower), to thousands and then to hundreds of thousands, therefore one can see how important it is to understand the market, otherwise the losses can be just as big as the profit.  Don’t try and do it yourself! CM Trading provides a reliable information source for potential investors through their unique software solutions and by providing free webinars, training videos, technical analysis and e-books.

 “Cryptocurrency is the future of trading, it is the future of currency and traded responsibly and with the right guidance could result in a nice nest egg, but it’s important to do it responsibly,” concludes Kibel.

General Cryptocurrency facts:

Bitcoin (at the time of writing this article) is currently trading at R107 298,81 for one Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is illegal in seven countries including Iceland; Vietnam; Bolivia; Russia; China. 

Cryptocurrency is not issued, endorsed or regulated by any central bank.  It is created through a digital process known as mining. 

Mining is the process by which transactions are verified and added to the public ledger known as the block chain.  Anyone with internet access and the correct hardware can participate in mining.

For everything you ever wanted to know about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, look no further than CM Trading.  The expertise, advice and guidance that is provided by this leading local and international online trading company is unparalleled.  From the novice to the experienced investor, CM Trading is the ideal online trading solution. 

Anyone interested in more information about cryptocurrency or want to start trading can contact CM Trading on www.cmtrading.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When trying to navigate the complex and often overwhelming web of forex trading, it is important to have a partner you can trust, one that can act quickly, efficiently and provide you with the best advice and products for your portfolio.  CM Trading is the company that offers its clients all this and more and has become the leading provider of derivative trading solutions to the local and international market.  

Since its establishment in 2012 CM Trading has built up a reputation for being able to answer its clients needs either personally, with the development of new and unique software solutions, or by providing webinars, training videos, technical analysis and e-books – all for free.  CM Trading’s aim is to make sure your individual trading goals are met in a responsible way. 

Offering a transparent trading environment to the retail market, CM Trading offers many services including:

• Guardian Angel – an intelligent automated trading assistant that encourages responsible trading
• Copy Kat – a social trading platform that allows traders to see what other traders are doing and then follow them/copy them as they see fit
• Trading Central – this is a leading market analysis website from which clients can glean information to help make informed decisions
• Live market summary
• Web trader

“Trading is a long-term activity, it’s best to not trade on emotions or beyond your means to ensure continued growth. At the end of the day you can’t change the volatility of the market, responsible trading will help make certain to protect you from it,” says Paul Venter Head of Business Development.

“CM Trading also offers support with the intricacies of Cryptocurrency trading.  This market is often complex and convoluted but it doesn’t have to be – it can be easy and enjoyable and can turn your world around – with the right tools and backing.  Even institutions have begun trading cryptocurrencies with CM Trading as they realise that this phenomenon has the potential to boost control of their trade.” 

An FSB-regulated company, CM Trading offers the best trading experience both locally and internationally and is a source of information and a conduit to successful trading on any and all trading platforms including: Forex Trading, CFD Trading, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Indicies Trading, Commodities Trading and Currency Trading. 

For more information on CM Trading please visit their website  https://www.cmtrading.com, or contact them on +27 10 500 80 26 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also follow them on Twitter @CMTrading_FX and Facebook @CapitalMarketsTrading.

NEWS PROVIDED BYNEWS PROVIDED BYshokoCAST.ioApr 26, 2018JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 26, 2018/ - shokoCAST, a global social music innovation platform, launches its social music platform that is set to be the most disruptive and innovative social music platform globally despite it having an African focus and especially in areas that have the most basic of technology infrastructure. The platform will seek to revolutionise the music, telecommunications and advertising value chains whilst benefiting musicians and music lovers everywhere.shokoCAST is a social music platform that brings about the rebirth of sound and evolution of music by converging the entire music value chain whilst bringing the artist directly to the fans. It’s a place where musicians build careers, fans find inspiration and managers discover talent! shokoCAST is a global decentralized free social music network built using Technology Innovations that are based on Multiple Interdependent Disruptions to the music industry on a hybrid quadruple layered blockchain called SHOkolah. The platform will enable the creation of music by artists and beatmakers and DJs, collaboration amongst users and sharing including the creation of 'communities with similar tastes', publishing and royalty administration; digital distribution; and consumption and monetization avenues that include downloads and streams and many new forms of revenue creation.

"We are very proud to be creating such an innovative solution that is second to none and which puts shokoCAST on track to be a global player. We have undertaken a crowdfunding campaign that is open to everyone and brings tremendous benefits to the musical industry, artists in particular, and also to those who invest in convertible notes and digital assets. We invite everyone from across the continent to join us as we build a social music platform that is relevant not just to Africa, but the world," says Therry Martins, CEO and Founder of shokoCAST. 

In emerging economies, higher are the hurdles you would need to jump to even consider releasing a track worse a career. Trying to invest time promoting your solo career is even more daunting as you would need to keep sync of all the different social platforms and conversations whilst keeping relevant. This is assuming you have the resources to create and publish music. Digital and online distribution has added to the evolution of the industry to a point where streaming accounts for over 60% of revenue. Blockchain technologies and the use of cryptocurrencies holds great prospects for Africa especially when considering their construct with benefits that include  decentralisation,  consensus and cryptography and the fact that it simply provides trust within a system of unknown users [1]. It is worth noting that even the World Economic Forum is cognizant of its potential in the banking industry with its report on the future of the financial infrastructure [2]. The SWIFT Institute also expects “substantial reductions in both cost and risk” within certain business areas of financial services [3]. Blockchain has the potential of economic evolution based on its impact to baseline industries, for example, blockchain could affect, among other business models, clearinghouses, exchanges, brokers, or remittances in capital markets, real-time money transfer, cryptocurrencies, and settlement markets, insurance also holds potential for blockchain technology applications. Blockchain capabilities are also instrumental in improving business processes like easier fraud detention and reduced administration costs through the use of smart contracts [4].  

“To create an effective social music ecosystem centred on innovation, shokoCAST is the best platform that offers an integrated solution that converges the value chains whilst encouraging changing digital lifestyles and music needs through the use of disruptive technologies that promote industry convergence, all for the benefit of society,” says Therry Martins, CEO and Founder of shokoCAST. “We are committed to completing our crowdfunding campaign and launching our platform as soon as possible.” 

More about shokoCAST

shokoCAST will offer a simple UI/UX for users that include 3 key user groups: music makers (artist, songwriters, vocalists, beatmakers, and DJs), music movers (fans, distributors, producers, our dRadio, other streaming platforms, everything digital) and music managers (record labels, collection societies, governmental departments in some countries, advertising companies, support service providers e.g. photography and recording studios). Key features include:

1. shokoCAST the platform that enables the user creation of music, collaboration amongst users and sharing including the creation of 'communities with similar tastes'; publishing and royalty administration; digital distribution; and consumption and monetization avenues that include downloads and streams and many new forms of revenue creation;)
2. suPERFORMER for monetization in addition to shokoCAST through live video, 360 video and augmented reality streaming, live concerts and events, ticketing, etc.;
3. Audio curated music playlists on digital radio or dRadio for those would prefer to listen to great sounds during their busy day;
4. A fully fledged transactional wallet called shokollet that hard-wires the solution to the blockchain providing full transactional capabilities on the network and with other cryptocurrencies and services
5. Socialing that unites users and groups; and
6. The secure and anonymous messenger called SHUSH! that is also the backbone to an uncensored news feed and user engagement.
7. All on a quadruple layered hybrid blockchain called SHOkolah. 

All actions and activities by users is rewarded by SHK tokens which is exciting as it’s the fuel by which music is built, traded and even promoted. Aspiring artists now have the means of exploiting these social incentives to build their careers! All this is possible thanks to the many technology innovations developed by the shokoCAST specialists and ties to the decentralized super-network. Having adopted a differential niche strategy that is very attractive to emerging economies as we will be building on partnerships in these countries.

For more information visit https://www.shokocast.io  or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 [1]  Deloitte, Blockchain: Democratized trust - Distributed ledgers and the future of value, Tech Trends 2016: Innovation in the digital era, Deloitte University Press, 2016.

[2] WEF, The future of financial infrastructure, World Economic Forum, 2016.

[3] M. Mainelli and A. Milne, The Impact and Potential of Blockchain on the Securities Transaction Lifecycle, SWIFT Institute Working Paper, SWIFT Institute, 2016

[4] McKinsey, Blockchain in insurance – opportunity or threat?, Insurance, McKinsey, 2016..

A new, digital asset exchange – ChainEX – has been launched on the world wide web. 

“ChainEX is the only digital asset exchange that provides a platform for South Africans to buy, sell or trade up to 20 different digital assets - using the South African rand as the default fiat-buying currency for some.” 

Director Otto Lessing said ChainEX’s mission is to provide a world-class platform to benefit every South African by providing them with easy access to global crypto markets. Recent statistics, he said, indicated that SA topped the list of countries with the most Google searches for the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Slovenia is second, followed by Austria, the Netherlands and Australia. Bitcoin is also the most searched term on Investopedia, the world’s largest financial education website. 

ChainEX is playing its part in meeting the world’s ever-increasing appetite for cryptocurrencies, said Lessing. “The increased interest in cryptocurrencies comes as no surprise as more and more people are looking to get involved in this exciting opportunity.” After starting 2017 at a market cap of USD17.7-billion, according to CoinMarketCap, he said the value of the cryptocurrency market surged by more than 1 200 per cent during the course of the year. However, he warned, the increased amount of interest also had a downside. “Digital asset exchanges are increasingly struggling with the massive influx of users, which results in them experiencing frustrating delays when trying to access or transact on the platforms. “ChainEX strives to alleviate this problem by providing a trading platform that is secure, user-friendly and reliable with a well-tested, highly scalable matching engine.” 

Plans include expanding its asset base by introducing more digital asset currencies to its trading platform, thereby providing South African users with a better experience and more exposure to the world of cryptocurrencies. “There is also a possibility to present a platform to South African-based companies where their newly launched ICO (Initial Coin Offering) tokens can be traded on,” said Lessing. 

Visit www.chainex.io for more information.