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Comment by novalis78 | Hacker News Reader

Teens in subsaharan Africa.

I'm still not seeing how a blockchain or bitcoin plays a fundamental role here? Teens (edit: adults) in subsaharan Africa can own stock, so can most Americans. They don't and I don't think it's for lack of blockchains or digital wallets.

> Teens in subsaharan Africa can own stock, so can most Americans

is that true? I thought most states had age requirements for trading securities, usually the age of majority.

Unless you're not trying to say that "most american teens can own stock".

Breaking the law is not a good reason to have a blockchain. If the law is bad it should be revisited. I've got me a theory the law is good here.

I'm not arguing for a blockchain solution here, fwiw.

Just pointing out that people under the age of majority are, in fact, restricted from trading securities (for obvious reasons).

Ah, you're probably right there. Okay, people of the age of majority in sub-Saharan Africa can own stock.

I did mean "most Americans", not most teenage Americans. I think OP was probably making a point about access to resources and markets, not age related legislation.

The US does not have age limits on stock ownership.

while true, most brokerages have age limits on executing transactions (which effectively results in the same thing)

Why can't someone build a non-blockchain Robinhood-style brokerage allowing teens in subsaharan Africa to buy stocks?

most brokerages i think wouldn't touch underage trading with a 10-foot pole, for obvious reasons.

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