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- The Ethiopian government contract to use the Cardano blockchain seems to have received the final signature of the minister yesterday.
- Via Twitter, Charles Hoskinson posted a “picture puzzle” that clearly hints at this.
The Cardano community has been eagerly awaiting the final confirmation of the Ethiopia deal since early February. John O’Connor, Director of African Operations at IOG, revealed at the time that the company of Cardano inventor Charles Hoskinson was in the final stages of a government contract in Ethiopia to bring several million users onto the Cardano blockchain. Since then, there has been plenty of speculation, as well as unforeseen, bureaucratic delays.
However, as Hoskinson reported last week, the deal was now close to being finalized. On March 25, a “special committee” had signed off on the decision to implement the project, leaving only the minister’s signature until last. Since yesterday, the deal may also have mastered this step.
Even though Hoskinson had to hide the announcement in a picture puzzle because he signed an “exclusive contract”, he didn’t miss the opportunity to tweet the following lines and the following two pictures:
For some reason, I have this strong desire to tweet these two pictures. Must be the blending of my ornithological endeavors with my love of 18th century American history….
For some reason, I have this strong desire to tweet these two pictures. Must be the blending of my ornithological endeavors with my love of 18th century American history…. pic.twitter.com/9njPc1mM9K
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 3, 2021
The Cardano community decoded the picture puzzle. The left image shows the white-cheeked Turaco (Menelikornis leucotis), a species of bird in the Musophagidae family, which has an Ethiopian origin.
On the left image is John Hancock, an American merchant, statesman, and prominent patriot of the American Revolution. Hancock was president of Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. “He is primarily remembered by Americans for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration, so much so that “John Hancock” became, in the US, an informal synonym for signature,” as @AleTutor explained.
Taken together, these two things clearly indicate that the minister has signed off in Ethiopia, meaning that the official announcement of the deal and the “Africa Special” could come as early as next week.
As CNF reported, IOG is planning a major expansion in Africa, which, just like the Ethiopia deal, will be the subject of the “Africa Special.” With partners, such as IceAddis, Hoskinson wants to gain access to more than 25 countries in Africa, and expand the IOG Africa team from “dozens to hundreds, if not thousands” over the next 5 years.
