Patricia, a financial based business in Lagos says it aims to usher Africa into a new digital age. The platform has grown from a local ecommerce startup to a global platform used by an estimated 300,000 people.
The company which has offices in the UK, Ghana and Nigeria, uses Blockchain technology to create an alternative financial eco system to the existing financial structures. They enable users to buy and sell cryptos at what they say are the best rates in Africa, with no hidden costs. The digital assets bought through the platform can then be stored in an inbuilt wallet which is “Safe, secure and flexible”.
In a recent interview with the guardian, Patricia founder Fejiro Hanu Agbodje, explained the inspiration for starting the company.
“I had an uncle who visited Nigeria, who used to give me an iTunes gift card. I didn’t own an iPhone, so I literally had no use for it, so I tried to find where I could exchange this for real money. I couldn’t find any local company doing that and I ended up getting scammed of the card. At that point, I realized I had stumbled on something special.”
Creating a use case for Bitcoin
Patricia has grown into something bigger than the founder had envisioned. Although many people believe that BTC is a speculative asset and a store of value, the Patricia founder believes people want to use it for every day transactions. The company has unveiled a customizable debit card that allows BTC holders to withdraw cash any time at an ATM machine. A bank account can also be opened in minutes using the platform.
Patricia also offers the ability to buy and sell gift cards from any location with top brands like Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon available. The platform also enables customers to purchase airtime form major mobile phone networks directly from Bitcoin wallets.
The company not only offers services, but also trains users on all its features through its information portal. The company is now well positioned to capitalize on the ever growing numbers of demand for mobile payments in Nigeria and around the world.
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