For episode 224 of the Crypto Altruists podcast, we’re excited to welcome Eric Alsop, Chief Technology Officer at Pesabase, a fintech platform using blockchain rails to simplify remittances, empower communities, and make financial access a reality across Africa.
If you’ve been following the show for a while, you might remember our earlier conversation with Pesabase about their mission to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more human. Since then, they’ve evolved far beyond remittances, expanding from mobile agents and mini-banks to building a full-service digital bank in South Sudan, all while integrating blockchain infrastructure that powers real-world economic growth.
In today’s conversation, we’ll unpack what’s new with Pesabase’s latest platform evolution, how stablecoins and smart contracts can create better financial rails for underserved communities, and why Africa may hold the blueprint for the world’s decentralized financial future.
You’ll learn:
🌍 Bridging Digital and Physical Finance: Pesabase merges blockchain infrastructure with real-world banking, meeting people where they are and expanding access to vital financial services across South Sudan, from remittances to microloans and savings.
💚 Community-Driven Impact: Through token-powered rewards and philanthropic fee mechanisms, Pesabase is creating new pathways for locals to earn income, fund community initiatives, and keep more value circulating within South Sudan’s economy.
💸 A Better Way to Send Money: By leveraging blockchain and stablecoins, Pesabase offers faster, cheaper, and more transparent remittances; cutting out middlemen, reducing fees, and ensuring every transaction delivers more value directly to families and communities.
PIPE gDAO is leveraging blockchain for their University Real World Asset IP Launchpad that helps bring groundbreaking ideas from lab to market. By joining the Pipe Associate Network (aka PAN), associates can create a profile highlighting their skills, be notified of opportunities, and then contribute fractional work to pre-IPO companies in return for equity and tokens.
Check out their Linktree for links to all of their socials so you can get involved and join this growing community!
02:50 - To kick things off, I’d love for you to introduce yourself. What’s your personal journey into Web3 and how did you become involved with Pesabase?
06:25 - The last time we spotlighted Pesabase on the show, we talked about Pesabase’s role in making remittances faster, cheaper, and more accessible. For listeners who may be new, can you give us a quick refresher on what Pesabase does and what’s changed since that last conversation?
08:10 - You recently relaunched the $PESA token with updated tokenomics. What led to this relaunch, and what were the key lessons learned that shaped Version 3?
09:55 - One of the most exciting things I saw is that transaction fees routed through the app will eventually support philanthropic initiatives. Can you share more about how this works in practice, and what kind of community impact you envision?
13:05 - Pesabase has grown from mobile agents and mini-banks to now building a full-service bank in South Sudan. How do these on-the-ground elements connect with your token and platform to create tangible financial empowerment?
15:30 - How do you see Pesabase’s reward mechanism supporting local economics and creating economic impact on the ground?
18:50 - Can you share a story or example of how Pesabase has changed someone’s life in a way that wouldn’t have been possible without blockchain infrastructure?
22:35 - What does a typical user of the platform look like? What challenges do they face? What are some of the trends in transactions you’ve seen?
24:05 - Tell me more about the stories of the Founders of Pesabase and what led them to being excited about remittances.
26:25 - What do the next steps look like in terms of scaling your solution to other countries in East Africa and around the world?
29:50 - Pesabase is positioning itself as more than a remittance service; it’s a financial ecosystem. How do you see $PESA evolving to give users in South Sudan access to tools like microloans, lines of credit, or digital savings?
33:20 - For listeners who want to support or learn more, what’s the best way to get involved with Pesabase and the $PESA community?
38:20 - Africa is quickly emerging as a global leader in blockchain adoption. From your vantage point, what makes South Sudan and East Africa uniquely suited to leapfrog into this new financial era?
41:05 - It’s not easy building a Web3 project. There are lots of cycles, ups and downs, and noise that can make it hard to focus. What is your North Star that keeps you going and on mission during the challenging times.
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While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
