Akuna Wallet unlocks the digital economy for African creatives
Akuna Wallet, a blockchain-powered digital wallet designed for creators, has launched its pilot in Ghana. Created by The Akuna Group, founded by Idris Elba, and developed by Manon Dave and The Stellar Development Foundation, Akuna Wallet removes barriers to Ghanaian creators receiving payment and provides new access to the global creative economy.
Working closely with local regulators, Akuna Wallet alleviates one of the biggest obstacles facing Ghanaian creators when exporting their work internationally. Traditionally, popular global content platforms that offer monetisation often require an international bank account or do not accept Ghanaian banks for payouts. By offering digital workers and creators – including artists, musicians, designers and more – a wallet that can receive international payments, Akuna removes that barrier, allowing creators to get paid directly from anyone, anywhere, faster and more affordably.
By 2030, it’s projected that the global creative economy will be worth up to $470 billion, yet Africa is currently estimated to make up less than 1% of that sum. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s youngest region, and Akuna Wallet seeks to open the door for up-and-coming Ghanaians to seize the opportunities available in the fast-growing creative industry and get paid for it.
“Akuna Wallet empowers creativity by providing limitless financial potential, making more diverse creators easily investable by people across the world”, says Manon Dave, who built the brand identity of Akuna Wallet and designed the application. “Our goal is to break down barriers to African creators finding their voice in the digital global economy – and putting the power to get paid directly and fairly in their hands.”
About Manon Dave
Manon is an award-winning creative engineer and producer. Developing transformative global AI experiences across multiple sectors and industries. A frequent collaborator with artists and brands such as will.i.am, Idris Elba, LVMH and Google, Manon is currently featured as the ‘face of’ Apple Wallet following his development of the Mindvalley app and it being featured in every Apple Store worldwide. Manon continues to use the transformative power of technology to produce more inclusive experiences. Demonstrating AI as a force for creativity and social good.
About The Stellar Foundation
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organisation that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source network that connects the world’s financial infrastructure. Founded in 2014, the Foundation helps maintain Stellar’s codebase, supports the technical and business communities building on the network, and serves as a voice to regulators and institutions. The Foundation seeks to create equitable access to the global financial system, using the Stellar network to unlock the world’s economic potential through blockchain technology. For more information, visit stellar.org/foundation.