Nairobi, Kenya has recently launched Node NBO, a physical collaborative space dedicated to Bitcoin, energy, and computing projects. The announcement states that the venue will provide co-working, experimentation, and event space for multiple African Bitcoin and infrastructure organizations, including Fedi, Gridless, BTrust, and the Human Rights Foundation.
There are three types of laboratories.
Node NBO is located in the Gigiri district north of Nairobi. The space features a co-working area as well as an event venue that can accommodate over 150 people for gatherings and community events. The inaugural event was held on May 16, attended by leaders and team members from Fedi, Gridless, BTrust, and Minmo.
- Open Source Energy Lab
- Open-source Bitcoin mining lab
- AI Computing Power Lab
According to the description, these labs will be used for product design, equipment assembly, and deployment planning, primarily serving teams related to Bitcoin, energy, and computing infrastructure.
Solar power is the primary source of electricity.
One of the project’s founders, Erik Hersman, said the purpose of establishing this space is to enable teams working on underlying technologies and infrastructure to collaborate in the same location, accelerating project progress. Obi Nwosu, CEO of Fedi, also noted that there is already a strong need for collaboration among relevant organizations, making co-location more conducive to cooperation.
Notably, the Node NBO project operates entirely on solar power. Gridless is installing a solar system across the entire facility to power it with independent energy. Gridless has previously leveraged renewable energy for Bitcoin mining in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, helping to bring electricity to parts of rural communities.
Also serves as a project showcase window
Node NBO is also regarded as a showcase for international visitors. The Gigiri area, located near the United Nations Office in Nairobi, frequently hosts visits from overseas institutions and enterprises. The project team states that, in the future, this site will be used to showcase Bitcoin, energy, and computing initiatives currently underway across Africa to external visitors.
Projects related to Node NBO also include SateNet. This project provides affordable, high-speed internet to underserved areas by building satellite internet towers, allowing users to pay for network services using Bitcoin via mini-programs within the Fedi app. The project serves communities such as Kibera in Kenya and Mossel Bay in South Africa.
The project team stated that Node NBO will also host future Nairobi BitDevs events and regular meetups for quantum computing researchers and developers. The founding team believes that Kenya’s local tech community places greater emphasis on in-person collaboration, and this space will serve as a dedicated venue for related discussions and decision-making.
Additional information: The original text is republished from the Fedi blog; the author, Frank Corva, is a content creator for Fedi, and the information source carries context from project participants.