Akon wants to found a 'real-life Wakanda' based around his cryptocurrency AKoin
Platinum-selling performer and philanthropist Akon wants to build his own city in Senegal and launch his own cryptocurrency as the central form of exchange. Speaking on Monday, June 18th, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, on a panel titled "Branding Africa: Blockchain, Entrepreneurship and Empowering the Future," the Grammy-nominated singer of "Don't Matter" and "I Wanna Love You" discussed his plans for AKoin, a branded form of cryptocurrency.
According to PageSix's panel report, Akon said blockchain technology and cryptocurrency could be "the savior for Africa in many ways" because of its high security factor. He said the app-based system "allows the people to utilize it in ways where they can advance themselves and not allow government to do those things that are keeping them down."
An initial information blurb posted by ICO Impact Group lays out a much more ambitious plan: a "100% crypto-based city with AKoin at the center of transactional life," to be built in Senegal. (Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri but is of Senegalese descent, and he spent significant parts of his childhood in Senegal.) The planned community would be called Akon Crypto City. [...] An extensive website for AKoin describes Akon Crypto City as "a real-life Wakanda," referring to the ultra high-tech fictional nation ruled by King T'Challa, aka the superhero Black Panther, in Marvel's Black Panther movie and comics.
Akon is an American singer, songwriter, businessman, record producer and actor of Senegalese descent.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Friday June 22 2018, @07:28PM (1 child)
And I've got as much chance of doing that is this clown. I've even got a Pint Jar labeled Grandiose Schemes where I've collected funding. (Mostly quarters).
Seriously, why is this story here? Are we trying to help fund his "take the money and run" plan, or warn people off, or demonstrate just just how bat shit crazy people who live for applause really are?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 23 2018, @02:26AM
Some actually interesting parts of TFA:
why is this story here?
Yeah. Maybe this will be worth mentioning in a year or so when there's a city hall and a dozen actual residents and some actual commerce.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 22 2018, @08:09PM (4 children)
Akon might want to talk to this group -- anyone seen any updates?
SN article-- Well Funded Crypto Utopians Setting up in Puerto Rico
https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=18/02/06/0219224 [soylentnews.org]
References NYT article Feb. 2, 2018.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Friday June 22 2018, @08:15PM
Verge article also mentions:
The Marshall Islands replaces the US dollar with its own cryptocurrency [theverge.com]
In the Pacific Ocean.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Friday June 22 2018, @08:21PM (2 children)
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 22 2018, @08:37PM
Great artists give away -- see Grateful Dead and their audience recording policy.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday June 22 2018, @09:00PM
Great artist?
Never heard of him...is he a friend of Beebers?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Gaaark on Friday June 22 2018, @09:00PM (2 children)
Never heard of this person.
Moving on.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by takyon on Friday June 22 2018, @09:05PM
Who da hell is Guuurk? Next akomment.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Saturday June 23 2018, @07:14AM
The Who? They were a great band.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Saturday June 23 2018, @08:53PM
We built this city on bu-uull shit.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh