Amidst a crypto winter, Africa is gradually building a vibrant onchain ecosystem that has caught the attention of global Layer 1 and Layer 2 crypto companies. However, despite this resilience, the continent still requires support in terms of technical training, funding, and community engagement.

In August, Coinbase's Layer 2 blockchain solution, Base, made its way into Africa shortly after its global launch. The aim was to support developers and builders in their efforts to grow the onchain ecosystem on the continent. Morgan Williams, the Asia-Pacific expansion lead at Coinbase, accompanied the Base team to Africa and recently sat down with NODO to discuss Coinbase's activities in Africa, the company's focus, and her advice for women's growth in the Web3 industry on the continent.

Williams has dedicated the majority of her career, spanning over ten years, to the financial services industry. Originally from Michigan in the US, she had the opportunity to work for a prominent fintech company, which marked her foray into international markets, focusing on the EMEA and APAC regions. Inspired by a course she took in the university concerning the potential of technology in alleviating poverty in emerging markets, she decided to move abroad to make a meaningful impact.

She left the financial services sector and ventured into the realm of mobility and ride-sharing in Latin America. However, she was soon pulled back into financial services after her time in Latin America exposed her to the profound challenges in financial inclusion faced by the population. She encountered personal difficulties in accessing and transferring money, and witnessed the struggles of friends in securing loans and credit. These experiences solidified her commitment to serving underbanked or unbanked populations.

She joined a Philippines-based crypto exchange, marking her foray into the crypto world, where the team not only facilitated crypto transactions but also provided financial tools to empower the local population. As her desire for a market with a regulatory framework supportive of financial inclusion and innovation grew, she began exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Williams relocated to Singapore and has been employed at Coinbase for the last 18 months. She told NODO that her journey has been guided by a desire to address financial inclusion challenges and empower underserved populations. According to Williams, with decades of experience under her belt, she has gained valuable insights into the importance of regulatory support, technological solutions, and the potential of cryptocurrencies to revolutionize financial access.

This interview was edited for length and clarity

What is your current role at Coinbase and how does it help you support the African continent?

Currently, my main responsibility at Coinbase is to support the growth strategy in Singapore and Australia for our Coinbase retail product. This involves implementing our "Go Deep and then Go Broad" approach. When we talk about "Go Deep," we are referring to developing localized products with comprehensive services that are accessible to the public. These products typically include fiat on and off ramps. On the other hand, in "go broad" markets, we focus on launching foundational products that act as gateways to Web3, such as Coinbase Wallet and Base. In Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Kenya, we adopt a "Go Broad" strategy. I was thrilled to be chosen to spearhead the introduction of Base to the African continent when we launched it in August. Base is a crucial product for the African ecosystem, given the abundance of developers and builders in the region. We have formed valuable partnerships with market players like Web3bridge, Aya, and Onboard, which assist us in growing Base and ensuring its support for the ecosystem.

What are the cores of Coinbase’s efforts in Africa? Why did the company think it was important to build further here?

We created Base with the goal of supporting and developing a fully on-chain, decentralized economy that is accessible to everyone. It is crucial that we establish Base and its initiatives on the continent of Africa to ensure that individuals who are working towards an on-chain future are aware of Base's presence and can leverage our platform. Africa is of utmost importance due to its significant developer community, particularly in Nigeria. Therefore, actively engaging with the community, such as collaborating with Web3bridge, a pioneering organization in the development of smart contract developers, is essential. This partnership will enable us to actively contribute to the growth of an on-chain economy as they continue to build the future of the industry.

What are some of your proudest achievements on the continent so far? Future plans?

In the past, we participated in two hackathons: the EthSafari Hackathon and the Web3bridge Hackathon. Additionally, we hosted four meetups where we had the opportunity to talk with developers in the community, gain insights into their projects, and receive real-time feedback. It was during these conversations that we discovered the importance of grants for the builder community.

Looking ahead, Africa is a crucial market for our company, and as we enter the planning season, it becomes imperative for us to incorporate Africa into our global strategy.

Moreover, I want to mention that we are sponsoring decentralized meetups in collaboration with three communities: Web3bridge, Aya in Ghana, and Builders Connect in Nigeria. We are excited to support these communities as they engage developers and nurture builder talent. By prioritizing our African partners, we ensure that these meetups have a meaningful impact. Recently, we had an inspiring builder showcase organized by Web3bridge, where the latest cohort of graduates had the opportunity to present in person and be judged by community leaders. We are thrilled to be a part of such events that foster growth within the builder community.

Furthermore, we recently announced the launch of our Base grant program. We are eagerly awaiting developer participation and anticipate announcing the first round of grant recipients soon. Although the grant program is global, we strongly encourage African developers to apply as well.

How important do you think women are in the tech and onchain ecosystems in Africa?

Women play a vital role in the business ecosystem. I recently came across a statistic that stated African women have the highest percentage of entrepreneurship worldwide, accounting for about 25% of businesses. In the EMEA region, this number is closer to 6%. This data highlights the prominence of women in the tech and business entrepreneurship community. However, despite their representation, women, especially African women, face challenges in accessing funding compared to their male and female counterparts in other parts of the world. This is where Web3 and technology become critically important for women. It's not just about the importance of women in the ecosystem, but also about how crucial tech and Web3 are in empowering women to build their businesses and gain access to funding and opportunities for upskilling. It is essential for Web3 and Tech to be inclusive, recognizing and catering to the needs of women, as they are essential contributors to the business ecosystem.

As a successful woman with over a decade of career experience in a male-dominated industry, how would you advise other women who want to advance their career in tech and the web3 industry?

When women want to advance their career, particularly in Web3, they must consider three key factors. The first is seeking mentorship. Throughout my various roles, I have always sought out mentors to gain a deeper understanding of the industry, as well as how to approach specific roles and navigate my career path. My relationships with mentors have been invaluable, providing guidance on exploring Southeast Asia, supporting my networking efforts, and opening doors for my international journey. Therefore, mentorship is key to career advancement.

The second aspect for women looking to advance in Web3 is active community participation. The beauty of Web3 is that it is still in its early stages, so there is ample opportunity for individuals to contribute and make a difference. Playing an active role in a community, whether through writing blogs, becoming a technical writer, or supporting community management, is highly beneficial for both Web3 communities and projects. This involvement allows for valuable community experience, which is essential for career growth.

Lastly, participation in hackathons is highly recommended. Hackathons provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a short amount of time. They offer an accelerated learning curve, allowing participants to learn quickly and extensively. Additionally, working in a team during hackathons presents networking opportunities, while also providing high visibility for your skills and abilities. For instance, during the EthSafari hackathon, a winning team included a woman who had the chance to present their project to Jesse Pollock, the creator of Base. This experience allowed her to showcase herself and establish important connections. Hence, hackathon participation is key to advancing one's career in Web3.

To summarize, women seeking career advancement in Web3 should prioritize mentorship, active community participation, and involvement in hackathons. Seeking these opportunities will greatly benefit their professional growth in the industry.

Lastly, what advice would you give to developers and builders seeking funding and support from Base?

If you're looking for ways to acquire funding and support for your projects, I would suggest considering Coinbase. Recently, Coinbase hosted the Coinbase Venture Summit, where they invited a select group of entrepreneurs, including one from the African ecosystem. However, the important point here is that Coinbase is particularly interested in specific crypto use cases including flatcoin, onchain reputation, onchain ads, and onchain capital, and more than can be found on our blog. If you're building products related to these categories, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are genuinely excited about these areas and would love to hear from you. So, it's not just about the summit, but rather about these innovative use cases that captivate us.