Blantyre, Malawi is where my Bitcoin journey really began, although I had no idea at the time. Growing up, I lived in a quintessential English village and apart from a few holidays, that was largely the extent of my view of the world. When I arrived in Blantyre in 1994, I was struck by the contrast between officials arriving in flashy cars at government buildings while outside, people were struggling and suffering. It was the first time I saw clearly how governments could enrich themselves while failing to look after their own people. That trip stayed with me and gradually shaped how I think about power, money and the state. More than thirty years later, learning that @Africa Bitcoin Conference will take place in Blantyre this year feels remarkable. It brings everything back to where my Bitcoin journey began and to the moment I first saw the problem Bitcoin ultimately addresses ... the need to separate money from the state.