The inaugural Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026 opened today at Sarit Expo Centre with a powerful declaration: Africa has arrived as a force in global financial markets. Hundreds of forex traders, brokers, fintech innovators, Payment Service Providers, and financial educators gathered for the first day of the two-day event themed “Smart Money, Smart Africa; The Future of Forex & Digital Trading.”
“We are opening a gateway to the future of finance in Africa,” declared CPA Zack Kiratu, Director of Azelia Expo Ltd, in his opening remarks. “Across this continent, something extraordinary is happening. Millions of young, tech-savvy Africans are entering the global financial markets. Fintech innovation is accelerating. Digital payments are transforming economies, and a new generation of traders, entrepreneurs and builders is stepping forward to shape the financial systems of tomorrow.”
Kiratu set the tone for the expo with a bold assertion: “Africa is no longer just a market to watch. Africa is a market to build with. Africa is a market to invest in, and Africa is a market that will help define the future of global finance.”
Mobile Trading: Africa’s Digital Leap
A central theme of Day One was mobile trading’s transformative potential for Africa. Panelists in the “Mobile Trading & Africa’s Digital Leap” session explored how smartphone penetration is democratizing access to global markets.
“The most amazing thing about trading is that we all have equal opportunities and you can do it from anywhere,” said panelist Ali, highlighting the accessibility that mobile platforms offer African traders.
Kiratu reinforced this view: “The future is in mobile trading.”
However, Sheila, speaking on mobile payments infrastructure, offered a critical reality check: “You can build the best trading app in the whole world. But if your users are having a challenge to access their money or make deposits or refund their wallets, then it is of no use.” Her comments underscored the vital role Payment Service Providers play in enabling seamless trading experiences across the continent.
Designing for Real Human Behaviour
The day’s keynote address came from Joao Campos of Empire FX, who shared insights from building EFX Lite, the company’s retail trading platform. His presentation, titled “Designing Trading for Real Behaviour,” challenged conventional thinking about trader education.
“People don’t make decisions rationally. They respond to design,” Campos told the audience, explaining that “systems are designed to stay ahead.” His remarks emphasized the responsibility platforms have in building interfaces that encourage disciplined trading rather than impulsive behaviour.
Understanding Currency Markets: The Carry Trade and Interest Rate Dynamics
The session on “Monetary Policy Shifts and Their Cross-Border Impact on Currency Markets” provided traders with crucial insights into macroeconomic forces driving forex movements.
“When interest rates increase, it usually means that there’s higher returns. And normally when there’s higher returns, money tends to flow where there’s higher returns. So this movement is what is one of the main drivers of the currency markets,” explained Christine, breaking down complex monetary policy concepts for retail traders.
Nick added: “The key thing is higher returns and safer yields, and as well as something we call carry trade.” The session equipped attendees with frameworks for understanding how central bank decisions in major economies ripple through to African currency pairs.
Kenya Shilling now Africas second worst performing currency
Crypto, Forex and Stablecoins: Convergence, Not Competition
One of the most anticipated sessions explored the intersection of traditional forex and the emerging crypto ecosystem. The panel on “Crypto, Forex & Stablecoins: Competition or Convergence?” delivered a clear verdict: the future lies in integration.
“You’ll find that everyone has a stable token, and it is integrated in all trade aspects. So then the inflation will go lower, because you’re no longer now operating locally. It’s already standardized and global,” said Vincent, pointing to stablecoins as a bridge between traditional and decentralized finance.
Joseph brought a user-centric perspective: “In 10 years, or even right now, users don’t care about the technology that is being under it. What they care is, if I’m sending money to Nigeria, this money is sent instantly.”
Seth outlined the path forward for traditional forex players: “We don’t want to say that Forex will leave what they’re doing currently to come to crypto, to come to blockchain, but their systems should be working on chain. Our systems in the FX space can be done on chain, in the blockchain. Because that is the new innovation that is happening.”
He emphasized: “Both of them can be different, but what brings us together is the stablecoins.”
Practical Skills: Masterclasses and Workshops
Beyond the panel discussions, Day One featured intensive practical sessions. Empire FX delivered a masterclass on “Click, Copy, Trade? How to Use Copy Trading the Right Way – Not a Shortcut,” addressing the growing popularity – and pitfalls – of social trading platforms.
Xelans Markets led a session on “Scaling as a Forex Entrepreneur,” providing roadmaps for traders looking to build sustainable trading businesses.
The day also saw panels on “The Rise of AI in Forex Trading”, exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping trading strategies. Workshops on broker selection and professional accreditation drew significant attendance from traders seeking to professionalize their practice.
An exclusive Executive Session – “The Forex Room: Decision Frameworks for Institutional FX Governance” – brought together institutional players and regulators for high-level discussions on market structure and oversight.
Gala Dinner Caps Day One
Day One concluded with an invitation-only Gala Dinner hosted by Main Sponsor Empire FX, attended by 250 industry leaders, sponsors, and VIP guests. The evening provided networking opportunities and set the stage for Day Two’s continued programming.
Day Two Preview
The expo continues tomorrow (March 11) with sessions including “From Guesswork to Strategy: How Beginners Can Build a Trading System,” “Women Shaping the Forex, Crypto & Fintech Industry,” and “Trading Rails of Africa: The Fintech & PSP Infrastructure Powering FX Payments.” iQuoto will lead a masterclass on risk management strategies for retail traders.
Reflecting on the day’s success, Kiratu told journalists: “The conversations that begin here at Africa Forex Trading Expo have the power to influence the next chapter of forex and fintech across Africa.”
