By 
A post-election crypto frenzy fueled by optimism over U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office has left many East African investors grappling with significant losses, as anticipated gains from digital assets fail to materialize amid ongoing market volatility and unclear regulatory direction.
Following Trump’s electoral victory in November 2024, millions of new investors from East Africa surged into the crypto market, drawn by expectations of a crypto-friendly U.S. administration. Trump’s public support for digital assets and close ties with industry advocates, including billionaire Elon Musk, stoked hopes of a bullish crypto run.
However, five months on, those hopes remain largely unfulfilled. As of Tuesday, the global crypto market had declined to $2.69 trillion, a sharp 28 percent drop from its all-time high of $3.72 trillion. Bitcoin alone has shed over $23,000 in value, representing a 21 percent decline.
“This year is turning out completely different than what we thought it would,” said James Mumo, a crypto investor and digital content creator based in Nairobi. “Many of us believed Trump’s presidency would be a game changer for the industry.”
Across East Africa, platforms such as Binance, BitGet, and Luno reported record-breaking user acquisition during the final quarter of 2024. Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance, revealed that Kenyan activity on the platform had surged by nearly 1,000 percent over the past 18 months, though she declined to disclose the exact figures.
BitGet reported an even more aggressive uptick, stating its African user base tripled in Q4 2024 and grew by over 1,600 percent in the second half of the year. Other exchanges including ByBit, Yellow Card, Coinbase, and NoOnes also confirmed increased traction in the region.
Yet the gains anticipated by the influx of novice investors have not been realized. Trump’s deregulatory actions—such as dismantling the Department of Justice’s crypto crimes unit and signing a bill to revoke IRS crypto tax enforcement rules—have done little to stabilize the market or inspire a sustained rally.
Furthermore, Trump’s imposition of global tariffs has sent shockwaves across financial markets, contributing to wider investor uncertainty and suppressing both traditional and crypto asset performance. Experts caution that these moves, though seemingly pro-crypto, lack the structured regulatory framework, compliance management, and risk assessment protocols necessary for long-term market confidence.
The euphoria of Trump’s rally appearances and crypto-friendly rhetoric, while momentarily boosting digital asset values, has since given way to declining market sentiment. For seasoned investors, this downturn came as no surprise.
“If you follow the broader economic signals and policy direction, the correction was inevitable,” said a regional representative for a major crypto exchange, speaking under anonymity. “Trump campaigned on an ‘America First’ agenda—investors should have anticipated the geopolitical and market risks that come with that.”
The crypto downturn has ignited conversations around regulatory technology solutions, financial crime prevention, and the role of RegTech innovations in mitigating risks for retail investors. The experience also highlights the need for compliance training, regulatory intelligence, and better public understanding of how global politics affect digital asset markets.
As East African investors reflect on their decisions, industry stakeholders are calling for enhanced compliance consulting, risk mitigation tools, and regulatory monitoring mechanisms to prevent a repeat of this speculative overreach.
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