Over the long term, crypto could offer a potential upside that can offset some of the slow bleed from inflation and underperforming cash.

South Africans love a good interest rate cut, but it's less good if you're a saver watching your bank balance grow. The alternative? Smart money would turn to the usual suspects: property, stocks, maybe even that retirement annuity... and bitcoin sounds cool, right?

I've noticed that the bitcoin conversation around the braai is now less about decentralisation and freedom from central banks and more of a deeper contemplation of asset management strategies and growing wealth.

Hannes Wessels, the general manager of Binance South Africa, is obviously trying to lead the discussion (because he runs an exchange). His sage words: "Crypto, when approached responsibly and with a focus on safety, offers South Africans another way to think about their financial future."

And let's be clear: he's not talking about betting your grocery money. The old adage remains: only ever invest what you can afford to lose.

July is Savings Month and it offers a rare moment to zoom out and ask: how do I make my money work harder? For some, it might mean putting a small slice...