In Africa, cryptocurrency often falls into two categories: either a quick-money gamble or a highly technical domain. However, for dedicated advocates like Moore Dagogo-Hart, crypto represents a genuine avenue to financial independence. His path began in a modest hostel room at the University of Lagos, where he developed games, and led to an internship at Goldman Sachs. Today, Dagogo-Hart focuses on creating tools that empower individuals to achieve financial autonomy through cryptocurrency.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Dagogo-Hart’s entry into technology mirrors the experience of many in his generation. His curiosity was sparked in secondary school when he first encountered HTML and CSS while preparing for his IGCSE exams. This interest deepened during his freshman year at the University of Lagos, where he took an “Introduction to Computer Programming” course. Yet, much of his practical knowledge came from outside formal education, primarily through YouTube tutorials. “I often say YouTube was a lifesaver for me,” he reflects. He proudly considers himself an alumnus of the “University of YouTube,” supplemented by courses on platforms like Udemy.
Motivated by the responsibility of supporting his single mother after losing his father as an infant, Dagogo-Hart was determined to monetize his growing skill set. “I always had the goal of helping my mom financially,” he shares. By his second year, he was actively seeking freelance programming jobs on platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. Recognizing the scarcity and value of mobile app development skills, he pivoted to this area, teaching himself through online resources.
Early Career and Breakthrough Opportunities
His initial professional experience was a mosaic of freelance assignments and referrals, often facilitated by a university friend and coding collaborator. “I believe he would say I influenced his journey as much as he influenced mine,” Dagogo-Hart notes about their mutual growth. This partnership led to his first significant remote role as a mobile app developer for Dealin, a UK-based blockchain startup focused on a coupon app. Although he left before the product’s launch, this role gave him valuable exposure to teamwork and product development.
Local tech communities also played a role in his growth. After spotting a job opening in the “Unilag Devs” WhatsApp group, he joined Brimatel Global Network, a development firm in Yaba. The CEO’s vision inspired him, and he contributed to various client projects, including his initial venture into artificial intelligence by creating Simbi Bots, a chatbot designed to assist university students with their studies.
The Indie Developer Journey: Viral Success and Reality Check
Alongside his contract work, Dagogo-Hart nurtured his passion for independent development. In 2019, he created a mobile game called Color Match over a single weekend. The gameplay was straightforward yet captivating: players had to combine two colors from a palette to match a target color.
He envisioned a lucrative revenue stream through advertisements and in-app purchases, confidently projecting, “I’m going to make $1 million from this.” The outcome was both thrilling and sobering. The game soared to number two on Nigeria’s Apple App Store and number four on Google Play, earning international recognition on platforms like App Advice. His peers began to see him in a new light. “It was an incredible feeling,” he recalls.
However, sustaining the momentum proved challenging. Overwhelmed by user feedback and update demands, while juggling academics and other jobs, he realized the difficulty of maintaining an indie project. “I understood how tough this really is,” he admits. Eventually, he ceased updating the game. Despite this, the experience was invaluable, marking the first time he witnessed widespread appreciation for technology he had created independently.
From Goldman Sachs to Crypto Enthusiast
Dagogo-Hart’s dedication earned him a prestigious internship at Goldman Sachs in London during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The paid internship, which came with a £7,500 stipend, was transformative. “That was the first time I had millions in my bank account,” he says. This experience reshaped his approach to money and investing, shifting from a speculative mindset of “put $100 in and make $10,000” to a more measured strategy of “invest $3,000 and aim for $200.”
He transitioned to a full-time position in 2021, working in the treasury department where he developed internal tools to automate financial modeling. Yet, his passion lay elsewhere. The 2021 cryptocurrency surge captivated him, immersing him in Discord and Telegram communities, minting and trading NFTs. His most notable success was an early acquisition of a Mutant Ape Yacht Club NFT, which he sold for approximately $50,000. He also capitalized on the Shiba Inu token, achieving a 300x return. “Crypto fascinated me because it aligned with my values of freedom and control,” he explains.
Choosing Freedom Over Stability
Only a month into his full-time role at Goldman Sachs, Dagogo-Hart resigned. The rigid, demanding corporate environment clashed with his desire for autonomy in building and trading. Returning to Nigeria, he co-founded Solaraft, a blockchain development firm, alongside his friend Ephere Emmanuel.
Their flagship product was Nebula, a non-custodial NFT wallet. They assembled a team of eight from their university network and developed a prototype within three weeks. However, they soon confronted the stark realities of Africa’s regulatory environment. “I didn’t fully grasp the legal complexities of the crypto market,” Dagogo-Hart admits. When attempting to launch on the Apple App Store, they were blocked due to Nigeria’s 2021 cryptocurrency ban, which prevented them from providing required documentation. Consequently, their product was limited to a small beta group, a harsh lesson in regulatory challenges.
Zap: Innovating with Security and User Control
The setbacks from Nebula’s launch and personal experiences of being hacked twice laid the foundation for his current project, Zap. “I was determined to create solutions that address these issues,” he says.
Zap is a non-custodial crypto exchange and wallet, empowering users to retain control of their private keys. Dagogo-Hart cites the hack of Patricia, a custodial platform, as a warning. “The customers suffered the most. Crypto is about freedom, so why entrust your funds to a platform that restricts that freedom?”
Zap’s growth was gradual until a pivotal moment in January when they listed the meme coin Trump. Dagogo-Hart shared this on his Instagram story, garnering over 15,000 views. “That single move transformed Zap’s trajectory,” he notes. Within 12 hours, they onboarded 10,000 users, trended on Twitter, and processed over a thousand transactions in a day-an explosive growth every startup dreams of, demonstrating the power of product-market fit.
Core Values: Ownership, Teamwork, and Integrity
Dagogo-Hart’s journey has shaped a clear philosophy. His indie development days instilled a customer-first mindset. Goldman Sachs taught him the corporate and regulatory frameworks essential for scaling. His startup experience underscored the importance of collaboration and leadership.
“I’m highly collaborative now,” he affirms. He fosters an open-door culture where even an intern’s idea can influence the company’s technical direction. For instance, a junior team member’s research convinced him to switch Zap’s backend from JavaScript to Golang to better support scaling. “He returned with a comprehensive research paper, and we made the change,” Dagogo-Hart recalls.
At the heart of his approach is a deep commitment to ownership-not just in terms of equity but as a principle. “Since childhood, I’ve built things to claim ownership,” he reflects. This ethos drives his dedication to non-custodial products, his early AI project aimed at protecting users from online threats, and his vision for a more inclusive crypto ecosystem.
For Moore Dagogo-Hart, navigating the complexities of app store policies, financial regulations, and market dynamics has been a masterclass in resilience and innovation. His story transcends merely riding the crypto wave; it’s about steering it toward a safer, more accessible, and fairer future. In his own words, he is crafting the very essence of the technology-and in doing so, defining his own legacy.
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