In the first episode of Voyage, Jojo sits down with Kofi (X: @0xKofi), a talented data scientist and the founder of Bundle Bear (X: @0xBundleBear). Kofi, who grew up in Ghana and later attended university in the UK, shares his insights on the state of Ghana's economy and the role crypto can play in shaping the country's financial future.

The discussion dives into the significant challenges facing Ghana’s youth, including high unemployment and a deep-rooted lack of trust in financial institutions. With the government still figuring out its stance on crypto regulation, uncertainty remains, but there is also optimism. Kofi highlights the potential for remote work and how crypto could offer a pathway to financial stability amidst the current economic struggles.

A key part of the conversation is the role of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in providing alternative investment opportunities and simplifying cross-border payments. Despite the slow uptake, Binance is currently the dominant exchange in Ghana. They explore the emerging Web3 builder ecosystem in Africa and the need for more user-friendly crypto apps that cater to local contexts.

Cultural factors also play a huge role in crypto adoption. Kofi explains how trust, social connections, and word-of-mouth marketing are vital in Ghana, as well as the unique challenges of promoting new technologies in the region. He emphasizes the flexibility of crypto compared to traditional finance and the immense opportunity for building innovative financial services that can empower African users.

Finally, Kofi shares his future plans, including continuing his work as a crypto data consultant and contributing to open-source projects, reflecting his passion for driving crypto adoption and development in Africa.

This episode sets the tone for the Voyage podcast by addressing real-world use cases and the evolving role of crypto in emerging markets like Ghana.