2026-01-31 –, Machankura
Cross border payments have dramatically changed over the past decade. The incumbent SWIFT system is being challenged by Bitcoin, stablecoins and alternative settlement networks. Which system will win?
Cross border payments have dramatically changed over the past decade. The incumbent SWIFT system is being challenged by Bitcoin, Stablecoins and alternative settlement networks. Which system will win?
Ricki Allardice, is a scientist, entrepreneur and Bitcoin evangelist from Cape Town, South Africa. He has a diverse professional history, including the biological sciences where he conducted research and development on soil and plant health products; asset and wealth management and the fin-tech startup space.
For the past 4 years he has been focussed on Bitcoin only startups, primarily building products and solutions which make self custody simpler and more attainable for the average user.
Ricki is the CEO and co-founder of Orange, a Lightning services company which connects african currencies to the Lightning network to facilitate cross border payments at the speed of light.
He also runs his own consulting service called Bitcoin Only, which assists individuals, businesses and trusts in their respective Bitcoin strategies, distributes sovereignty promoting hardware and Bitcoin key management for the long term.
Twitter: @BitcoinOnlyZA
Nostr: npub1aj9k43cmuqdh23un8f25nzdudpep9vaeumte5v7ran7f697y7dgswjw6h3
Website: www.bitcoinonly.io
Enterprise software leader with deep expertise in fintech, payments, and Lightning. Leads IBEX’s global commercial strategy
Robert Allen is a veteran financial professional (SchiffGold 2010-2014) and an early Bitcoin pioneer (class of 2014). He is the founder of Coincube.io and co-founder of Satlantis.io. Now based in Lagos, Nigeria, Robert leads Tirith.tech, a software firm with strong Nigerian engineering roots dedicated to building the infrastructure for the decentralized web. His work focuses on unlocking Bitcoin's potential for economic empowerment and accelerating tech development across Africa.
Theophilus Isah is the CEO and Co-founder of Mavapay, a Bitcoin company focused on providing payment infrastructure starting with Africa, with global potential. Theo is a Btrust alumnus and is deeply invested in technical Bitcoin education for the Global South. He is also actively involved in building free Bitcoin open-source tools and projects that foster Bitcoin adoption.
Divan Myburgh is the co-founder of Swoop. He built his career in traditional finance, culminating in leading operations at a leading foreign exchange treasury banking intermediary. He has since drawn on that experience to launch Lightning rails for South African expats who need to bring funds home efficiently.
With specialist knowledge in international money transfers and cross-border payments, Divan understands where deals get stuck: Exchange Controls, due process, and compliance. In practice, these are often the difference between a smooth settlement and a stalled transaction. His operational grounding means clients get clear guidance, clean execution, and fewer surprises when moving funds.
Divan is passionate about Bitcoin and self-custody and facilitates brokerage rails in addition to international money transfers. Through efficient use of the Lightning Network, Swoop enables expats to repatriate funds to South Africa at superb exchange rates, with extremely fast settlement, clear pricing, and a process that stays compliant and straightforward.