Sotechy Shop

Demo

About

Why are you participating for Based Africa? We are participating in Based Africa to contribute to the growth and transformation of Africa’s digital economy, particularly through decentralized technologies and innovative e-commerce solutions. As a company operating in Nigeria for over two years, Sotechy has firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities within the African market. We understand the need for secure, accessible, and efficient platforms that can drive the adoption of Web3 and blockchain technologies. Our motivation stems from a desire to empower African consumers and businesses by offering a hybrid e-commerce platform that incorporates both traditional and cryptocurrency payments. By embracing Web3, we aim to bridge the gap between technology and commerce, creating new opportunities for financial inclusion and economic growth across the continent. With the support of programs like Based Africa, we believe we can scale our impact and become a driving force in the region’s digital revolution. Additional Features During the event, we added the ability for users to make payments using their Coinbase Smart Wallet both online and offline, These enhancements not only streamline the payment process but also support our goal of creating a fully decentralized e-commerce platform.

How it's made

What challenges are you focusing on? Limited Access to Decentralized Financial Services: Many consumers and businesses in Africa still rely on traditional banking systems, which can be slow, expensive, and inaccessible to large parts of the population. By leveraging Base’s blockchain technology, we aim to introduce decentralized payment solutions that are more inclusive, secure, and efficient. Lack of Trust in E-Commerce: Trust is a major issue in online shopping across Africa due to concerns about fraud and unreliable payment systems. With Base’s secure and transparent blockchain infrastructure, we can build trust by ensuring safe and verifiable transactions for our customers, both online and in-store. Digital Literacy and Adoption: There is a gap in digital literacy and understanding of blockchain technology in many communities. We aim to bridge this gap by providing easy-to-use, accessible platforms that educate users about the benefits of decentralized systems, helping them navigate the shift to Web3 more comfortably. How does your submission address this challenge? Sotechy significantly improve the e-commerce experience in our community by solving issues like bank network delays and providing customers with blockchain proof of their transactions. It reduces the need for cash and allows clients to pay directly with crypto without needing to convert to Naira, fostering a seamless and efficient payment process. Ultimately, it promotes the adoption of blockchain technology, empowering users to make transactions for electronic gadgets and appliances while enhancing trust, transparency, and innovation in the digital economy. Challenges we ran into During the project, we faced several challenges, including the technical hurdle of integrating crypto payment systems alongside existing bank options, which we overcame by integrating the Coinbase Commerce API to process crypto payments, allowing users to seamlessly make payments using their Coinbase Smart Wallet. Additionally, we tackled the non-technical hurdle of user education on crypto payments by creating informative materials and hosting live demonstrations to build confidence among our customers. Finally, navigating the regulatory landscape around cryptocurrency in Nigeria required us to engage legal experts to ensure compliance with local laws, helping us mitigate potential risks and foster user trust.