Blockchain
Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026 to unveil Africa’s premier pipeline of investment-ready green ventures making a difference toward net zero goals
Africa's Green Economy Summit (AGES 2026) is set to host an unparalleled showcase of investment-ready green economy projects from across the continent. With over 100 applications meticulously vetted by its expert investors committee, nearly 30 pioneering Pan-African initiatives have been selected to present their transformative solutions. This curated pipeline, spanning crucial sectors from clean energy to climate-smart agriculture, underscores Africa's pivotal role in the global green transition and AGES 2026's commitment to connecting global capital with impactful African ventures.
Elodie Delagneau, Investment Project Lead at VUKA Group, emphasised the significance of this year's selection: "The overwhelming response and the exceptional quality of applications reaffirm Africa's immense potential in the green economy. AGES 2026 is not merely a conference; it is the definitive platform where serious capital meets serious impact. Our rigorous vetting process ensures that investors encounter thoroughly de-risked and scalable projects that are poised to deliver both significant financial returns and verifiable environmental and social benefits."
A curated pipeline of innovation
The Pitch Programme is the culmination of extensive market research and rigorous evaluation, designed to identify and elevate projects that are not only innovative but also strategically aligned with Africa's sustainable development goals. These initiatives represent the cutting edge of green and blue economy solutions, ready to drive tangible progress across the continent.
Our committee, comprised of leading investors and industry experts, has meticulously selected nearly 30 game-changing ventures. This sneak peek offers a glimpse into the future of Africa's green economy, featuring solutions that are ripe for investment and set to transform industries and communities alike.
Approaching Africa's critical green economy verticals
AGES 2026 will present a diverse portfolio of projects categorised into eight high-growth sectors, each offering compelling investment opportunities:
- Energy: Powering Africa's Green Transformation
The sector is fundamental for Africa's development, with over 600 million lacking electricity. Projects range from utility-scale solar and wind to mini-grids, energy storage, and green hydrogen initiatives. These ventures offer rapid emissions reductions, enhance energy security, and unlock new economic opportunities. Investors will find projects leveraging Africa's abundant renewable resources, supported by favourable policies and innovative financing.
- Transport & E-Mobility: Accelerating Sustainable Connectivity
Addressing urbanisation and emissions, this sector showcases projects focused on electrifying Africa's transport systems. Initiatives span electric buses, two/three-wheelers, and innovative logistics solutions. These projects aim to reduce fossil fuel consumption, improve urban air quality, and enhance economic productivity through modern, efficient, and clean mobility infrastructure.
- Waste & Circular Economy: Transforming Waste into Value
This critical sector tackles public health, urban resilience, and climate mitigation by converting waste into valuable resources. Projects include advanced recycling facilities, waste-to-energy solutions, organic waste composting, and innovative approaches to utilising invasive species. These ventures create jobs, reduce landfill reliance, and generate new revenue streams from what was once considered waste.
- Water & Resilience: Safeguarding Africa's Most Precious Resource
Water security is paramount for health, agriculture, and industrial activity, especially as climate change intensifies drought and flood risks. Projects in this sector focus on building resilient water infrastructure, developing decentralised water services, and implementing climate-resilient solutions such as groundwater monitoring and integrated catchment rehabilitation.
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems: Cultivating Africa's Future
With agriculture central to livelihoods, this sector presents projects focused on sustainable practices that increase productivity, climate resilience, and food security. Initiatives range from vertical farming and biochar-based fertilisers to agri-tech platforms and cold chain solutions. These projects aim to reduce emissions, enhance soil health, boost yields, and empower smallholder farmers across the continent.
- Biodiversity & Nature Finance: Safeguarding Africa's Natural Capital
Africa's vast biodiversity underpins essential ecosystem services and climate regulation. Projects in this sector mobilise capital to protect, restore, and sustainably manage critical ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and coastal zones. Initiatives such as REDD+ programs and blue carbon projects offer high-impact conservation opportunities with significant co-benefits for local communities and tourism.
- Digitalisation & Climate Tech: Accelerating Green Innovation
Digital tools are proving to be powerful accelerators for climate solutions, optimising energy use, enhancing agricultural productivity, and improving resource management. This sector features projects leveraging IoT, AI, and blockchain for supply chain traceability, carbon accounting, and new green business models. These technologies reduce transaction costs and dramatically increase the scalability of green projects.
- Carbon Markets & Credits: Monetising Climate Action
Carbon markets are emerging as a powerful mechanism to mobilise private capital for climate mitigation and nature-based solutions. Projects here focus on generating high-integrity carbon credits through renewables, avoided deforestation, mangrove restoration, methane capture, and sustainable agriculture. These initiatives channel crucial finance to projects that deliver verifiable climate benefits alongside significant social outcomes.
Experience the power of connection
AGES 2026 stands as Africa's most influential gathering for green investment, innovation, and policy. The summit is meticulously designed to foster direct connections between global capital and the most promising green economy projects.
"The Pitch Programme offers an unparalleled opportunity for investors to engage directly with the innovators shaping Africa's green future," Delagneau added. "Beyond the pitches, attendees will benefit from purpose-built matchmaking sessions, networking opportunities with leading DFIs, corporate partners, and policymakers, and deep insights into the continent's evolving green economy landscape. Our goal is to significantly accelerate deal flow and ensure that every investor finds projects that align with their financial and impact mandates."
The summit also includes a robust mentorship program for pitching projects, ensuring they are investor-ready and equipped with compelling narratives. This holistic approach reinforces AGES 2026's commitment to not just showcasing projects but actively facilitating their success and growth.
AGES 2026 is poised to be a pivotal event in driving Africa's just transition, underscoring the continent's leadership in developing scalable, sustainable, and economically viable solutions to global challenges.
More information or registration: www.GreenEconomySummit.com
To download the event brochure, click here (https://apo-opa.co/4pRd1LN).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.Additional Link:
Download the Deal Book to explore all of the confirmed projects pitching at AGES 2026: https://apo-opa.co/48iElMV
Media enquiries and interview requests:
Nomsa Mdhluli
Nomsa@tishalacommunications.com
+27 71 628 6231
Elize Engle
Pr1@tishalacommunications.com
+27 82 762 4946
Tshepang Mokoena
Pr@tishalacommunications.com
+27 76 682 9608
Registration enquiries:
Mzamo Jika
mzamo.jika@wearevuka.com
Letlatsa Sekhele
letlatsa.sekhele@wearevuka.com
Prudence Chishimba
prudence.chishimba@wearevuka.com
Binance Launches ‘Binance Junior’ Crypto Savings Account for Kids and Teens
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Binance (www.Binance.com) today announced the launch of Binance Junior (https://apo-opa.co/49UWuBE), a new parent-controlled app and sub-account for kids and teens, ages 6-17, that offers parents a family-centric platform to build crypto wealth and savings, helping prepare their children for a digital financial future. Binance Junior allows parents to open and manage crypto savings accounts on behalf of their children, enabling young users to save and earn crypto in the account through Binance Flexible Simple Earn, while restricting trading activities to ensure safety.
Parents can fund the Binance Junior account via their master account or through on-chain transfers. By offering controlled early exposure to savings and digital assets, Binance Junior empowers parents to invest in their children's financial future and nurture positive saving habits. As crypto becomes increasingly integrated with mainstream finance, this new product aims to provide young users with a strong foundation in personal finance and digital asset education, promoting long-term financial literacy and readiness for the evolving economic landscape.
“As parents who love our children, we not only nurture them in their early development but long-term growth with responsibility and wisdom—helping their ability to face real life challenges independently where financial health and literacy are key to preparing them for the future, especially as money is evolving,” said Binance co-CEO Yi He. “Today, parents can take the first steps to prepare for their children's financial future and equip them for the future financial landscape. Binance Junior is a family finance initiative that helps parents build crypto wealth and savings for their children and encourages them to teach and practice healthy financial habits for the next generation into adulthood.”
Designed for both crypto-native parents and those new to digital assets, Binance Junior helps them begin their digital finance journey as a family in a secure environment with parental control and monitoring via a simplified interface, with safety measures in place. Binance Junior users aged 13 and above can initiate transfers on their app, with a higher age criteria where required by local regulations, and with daily limits applied. Trading is not permitted and transfers to non-parental adult users are also restricted. Parents will be notified of every transaction from their Junior account and have the ability to disable their child's Junior account at any time, immediately halting all transfers.
As part of Binance's continued mission to educate people about the world of digital assets, while preparing the next generation for financial health and wealth under its broader family finance initiative, it has released a self-published book, “ABC's of Crypto.”
The “ABC's of Crypto” is an educational book designed as a children's book for anyone who is interested in learning about crypto and illustrating how crypto can be “as easy as ABC.” The book breaks down fundamental terms in crypto, from security and blockchain technology to types of coins, in a fun and easy-to-understand way—encouraging families to learn together in their digital finance journey.
Binance Junior will be available in select countries via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information on features and how to get started, visit: https://apo-opa.co/49UWuBE.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.About Binance:
Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 290 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means.
For more information, visit: www.Binance.com
Unpacking the Decline in Illicit Crypto Use: How Binance Is Driving Industry Progress
New independent data from Chainalysis and TRM Labs shows that illicit crypto activity on centralised exchanges has dropped to historic lows, signalling a new era of maturity for the industry. As of June 2025, the seven largest exchanges recorded just 0.018–0.023% of total activity linked to illicit addresses — a sharp decline from levels seen two years ago.
Binance Leads at Global Scale
Both analytics firms found that Binance, despite processing volumes comparable to the next six exchanges combined, consistently maintains the lowest exposure to illicit funds.
- Chainalysis: Only 0.007% of Binance's June 2025 volume was linked to illicit activity — 2.5x lower than the average of other top exchanges.
- TRM Labs: Binance recorded 0.016% direct exposure versus 0.023% elsewhere — roughly 30% lower.
This performance reflects deep liquidity paired with robust compliance and monitoring.
What “Direct Exposure” Means
Direct exposure is the percentage of an exchange's activity that touches wallets involved in verified illicit behaviour (e.g., scams, hacks, sanctions violations). Lower exposure signals effective detection, blocking, and reporting before funds circulate further.
While crypto is often scrutinised, illicit finance in traditional channels far exceeds it — with trillions laundered annually via banks and fiat systems, according to NASDAQ, the UN, and IMF.
Why the Data Differs Slightly
Chainalysis and TRM use different attribution datasets and clustering methods, which naturally creates minor variations. Still, both agree: illicit activity in crypto is now minimal, and Binance leads the industry in reducing exposure.
Binance's 96–98% Improvement Since 2023
From January 2023 to June 2025, Binance reduced illicit exposure by 96–98%, outperforming industry peers by several percentage points. This is particularly significant given Binance's 2025 scale — over $90B processed daily and 217 million trades per day.
How Binance Achieves This
- Large compliance investment: 1,280+ specialists (22% of staff) dedicated to risk, compliance, and investigations.
- Law enforcement collaboration: 240,000+ requests handled; 400+ investigator training sessions conducted globally.
- Industry partnerships: Active member of Beacon Network and the T3+ program with Tether, TRON, and TRM Labs to freeze and recover illicit funds in real time.
- Advanced monitoring: AI-powered systems reduce false positives and increase precision in detecting suspicious activity.
An Industry Transforming
The data reflects a broader shift: blockchain's transparency, combined with improved supervision, has made crypto one of the most traceable financial systems. Illicit activity now accounts for only a fraction of a per cent of global crypto transactions — far below levels seen in traditional finance.
Final Thoughts
The alignment between analytics firms reinforces a clear message: crypto is cleaner than ever. Binance's ability to maintain the lowest illicit-exposure ratios while operating at unparalleled scale underscores strong compliance, advanced technology, and a long-term commitment to user protection.
As adoption grows, sustaining this progress — through collaboration, better tools, and continued transparency — will be essential. Binance's performance shows that responsible growth and user safety can advance together.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa Announces 10 Finalists for Second Triple-Double Accelerator Demo Day
- 10 Finalists From Five African Countries Will Pitch Their Products to International Industry Leaders on Dec. 5 in Kigali
- Carnegie Mellon University Africa Joins as Official Partner of the Program
NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) today announced the 10 startup companies from five African countries that have been selected as finalists as part of the second edition of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator (https://apo-opa.co/48kJsem), which the league launched last year to support the continent's technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The 10 finalists will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday, Dec. 5.
NBA Africa also announced that CMU-Africa has joined as an Official Partner of the program, which is open to early-stage African startup companies that develop solutions in the sport and creative industries. CMU-Africa is the only U.S. research university offering its master's degrees with a full-time faculty, staff and operations in Africa.
ServiceNow – an AI platform for business transformation whose Now Assist and AI agents help organizations deliver faster and smarter experiences at scale – also serves as an Official Partner of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, while ALX Ventures – a leading technology incubator that provides the continent's tech leaders with access to the skills and tools to launch and scale their startups – is once again operating the program.
The 10 startups, which were selected from more than 700 applications, will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders who will choose five winners to receive financial support and the opportunity to join CMU-Africa's 12-month Business Incubation Program as part of its Innovation Hub, which helps African tech startups transform proof-of-concept prototypes and preliminary market assessments into scalable, market-ready products and services.
Below are the 10 startups that will compete for the five prize-winning spots:
- Athlon Technology (Egypt) (https://AthlonTechnology.com/) aims to leverage accessible mobile technology and AI to provide video analysis for amateur and budget-constrained sports teams while addressing a market gap with a user-friendly, hardware-light solution.
- Atsur (Nigeria) (https://apo-opa.co/4pxsTCH) leverages blockchain technology to promote investment in African art and support artists and art communities.
- CoLab (South Africa) (https://apo-opa.co/3XiPvek) is a platform that brings together creatives, entrepreneurs and industry professionals, providing a space to connect, manage projects and bring ideas to life.
- Contestify (Nigeria) (www.Contestify.io) is an all-in-one platform that streamlines contest management, offering real-time judging, transparent scoring and instant payouts.
- Fitclan (Egypt) (https://Fitclan.co/) is a digital fitness hub that leverages a flexible subscription model for individuals and corporate clients.
- Novate (Morocco) (www.Novate.ltd/en) offers a unique, immersive virtual reality (VR) football viewing experience with features such as seat selection, camera switching, social voice chat and live stats.
- ProPath Sports (Kenya) (www.ProPathSports.com) revolutionizes athlete discovery in Kenya with data-driven talent identification; its iSTEAM program covers all aspects of talent development.
- Reborn (Morocco) (https://RebornSportsTech.com/) offers comprehensive performance indicators that give athletes deep insights into their physical condition and on-field performance, essential for identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and optimizing overall performance.
- Safia Health (Kenya) (https://SafiaHealth.com/) offers personalized training regiments that integrate fitness, recovery and mental wellbeing tracking into a unified platform, offering value to athletes and coaches.
- SongDis (Nigeria) (www.SongDis.com) provides comprehensive digital distribution and services tailored for African independent artists and labels.
“The quality of this year's applications reflects the incredible talent and creativity among Africa's young entrepreneurs as well as the important role that the sport and creative industries are playing in the continent's development,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “These startups represent the bold spirit of innovation rising across the continent – where creativity meets purpose, and ideas have the power to scale beyond borders.”
Last year, four prize-winning companies – Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya) and UBR VR (Egypt) – were awarded financial support and mentorship as part of the inaugural edition of the program.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).Contact:
Chumani Bambani
NBA Africa Communications
cbambani@nba.com
+27 65 548 1031
Fans can follow:
NBAAfrica on Facebook and YouTube
@ nbaafricaofficial on Instagram
@ NBA_Africa on X
@ theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league's business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league's efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fifth season in June 2025.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Driven Cartels Challenge Traditional Antitrust Approaches, Experts Conclude at HSE Conference
Digital cartels and algorithmic coordination were among the central topics discussed at the 10th Anniversary International Conference “Antitrust Policy: Science, Practice, Education,” organized by FAS Russia, HSE University and the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre. Officials from BRICS and EAEU competition authorities, judges, researchers and practitioners examined how AI technologies reshape global markets and complicate traditional antitrust enforcement.
During the session “Artificial Intelligence vs. Cartels,” Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Centre, emphasized that algorithmic coordination represents a new form of cartelization. He noted that algorithms can synchronize prices without human intent or explicit agreements, creating “black boxes” that regulators struggle to interpret. While classical cartels relied on meetings and documented communication, digital cartels may evolve autonomously, react in milliseconds and scale across entire platforms.
Ivanov referenced emerging global enforcement practice that illustrates these challenges. In the United States, the RealPage case has demonstrated how revenue-management software coordinating rental prices across a market can lead to cartel-like outcomes, resulting in dozens of settlements and creating a new benchmark for assessing algorithmic collusion. Similar issues arise in ride-hailing and online marketplaces, where centralized algorithmic systems influence pricing, ranking and access to key tools such as the Buy Box. Risks of algorithmic price management, he noted, also exist on Russian platforms. In global commodity trade, digital platforms such as Covantis show how blockchain-based systems may consolidate, rather than decentralize, market power.
According to Ivanov, some forms of digital coordination are becoming structural features of modern markets. Regulators therefore need to understand how algorithms operate and develop tools that differentiate harmful coordination from efficiency-enhancing mechanisms. This includes transparency requirements for algorithms, real-time monitoring, increased technical capacity within antitrust agencies and expanded international cooperation.
The conference underscored a growing consensus: AI-driven coordination is transforming markets faster than traditional antitrust tools can respond. Experts agreed that enforcement approaches must evolve accordingly to ensure that digital markets remain open, transparent and competitive.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.