Machankura: Send bitcoins by SMS with a phone without internet?

Machankura is a new service operating in 6 African countries that allows you to send and receive Bitcoin on a simple cell phone.

For more than two decades, the latest innovations in financial technology have been exploding in Africa. One can think of M-Pesa , which paved the way for mobile payments, for example.

Likewise, among the populations that use the most bitcoin, we find Nigeria in first position. Other African countries are on the list and this is explained for several reasons: unstable currencies and subject to inflation (Zimbabwe, etc.), complex macroeconomic policies (CFA Franc), tense political and military situations (Mali, Sudan). , etc). The reasons that push Africans to use and own bitcoin are numerous.

It was therefore not surprising for those familiar with the financial intricacies of the continent to see that the first state currency was launched in the Central African Republic with the sangocoin.

The smartphone is not (yet) accessible to everyone, nor is access to the internet…

However, when the problem can arise when the phones used among the population. Most people have a phone (without internet access). The smartphone is still reserved for a part of the population that has the most means.

Thus, one might think that access to bitcoin could be limited to this segment of the population. This is indeed the case and is one of the biggest obstacles to the mass adoption of bitcoin in African countries.

Let us add that many people do not see the point of owning a smartphone because they do not have access to the internet. Rural regions simply do not have internet coverage and the inhabitants of these areas have no concrete interest in owning a smartphone.

This makes the use of cryptocurrencies and bitcoin even more difficult.

However, a new original concept has just emerged to help the most deprived populations to send and receive bitcoin only with a basic telephone.

The concept can be a real revolution for unbanked people on the one hand and those also excluded from access to the internet.

Machankura: Send bitcoins to a simple cell phone

Machankura is what this new service is called which runs on all first generation phones.

The idea is to be able to send and receive bitcoin as simply as sending a text message. This is certainly one of the most innovative concepts in terms of bitcoin payment that we have seen in recent years.

We are typically in the case – once again – of a very useful innovation which allows us to get around the problem of smartphones.

Here is a short video on how Machankura works:

Machankura users can now redeem @Azteco_ (and 1 For You) Bitcoin vouchers using the USSD interface. pic.twitter.com/qkPRwGzkrL

— Machankura 8333 (@Machankura8333) August 10, 2022

To do this, the Machankura service uses USSD technology. Although in Europe it is a little used technology, in Africa it is particularly relevant. USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a protocol on which you can trigger a service by sending a simple SMS.

For example, you probably use USSD when sending an SMS *123# to your carrier. You will then have access to the answering machine, to recharge your balance, etc.

You should know that in Africa, USSD is used by many companies to deliver services in very different sectors (access to the weather for farmers, healthcare services, etc.).

The uses are multiple and infinite with this technology and it allows - above all - to get around the problem of lack of internet access.

—> To find out more about USSD technology, here is a very well-documented article: https://www.monisnap.com/fr/blog/article/ussd-en-afrique/

So how does it work in practice?

All you have to do is send a telephone number according to your country of access. At the moment, only 6 countries can benefit from Machankura's service. It's about :

• Ghana
• Uganda
• Malawi
• Nigeria
• South Africa
• Kenya

So, users from the following countries simply need to send an SMS to the given number. Then, a sequence of actions that can be performed will be displayed on the phone.

Technically, it will be possible to send or receive bitcoin.

Similarly, one can also go directly to the Machankura 8833.mobi website to send bitcoin to the phone number in question.

Final word on the Machankura service:

Machankura addresses the main obstacles that could hinder the mass adoption of Bitcoin on the continent. Lack of internet access and lack of smartphones are the two major problems to overcome. This is precisely what Machankura brilliantly does. While there is a solution for sending Bitcoin via WhatsApp , it is not practical for villages without internet access.

We can only commend the founders of this project who have managed to innovate despite the difficulties. We also know that the service has been well adopted in Ghana .

There is now an alternative to buying Bitcoin with CFA francs thanks to Machankura. However, if you wish to do so on online platforms, read the article to learn how to buy cryptocurrencies while in Africa.

Useful links from Machankura:

• The account Twitter Machankura
• The website: https://8333.mobi

Are you interested in the subject of Africa? Here are some articles you might like:

• The 5 platforms for buying (and selling) cryptos in Africa
• Cryptocurrencies are the ultimate solution to develop Africa…
• Bitcoin in Africa: the best African bitcoin companies
• Sangocoin crypto: Everything you need to know to buy it.
• How do rich and developing countries use cryptocurrencies?
• The 8 best African cryptocurrencies to discover
• AfricaPay : an ambitious project for the continent

If you reside on the continent, be aware that Binance in Africa organizes many meetings in Africa.

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Note: No financial advice is given in this article or any other article on ZoneBitcoin . This information is entirely your own judgment. Be responsible for your investments and only invest an amount you are prepared to lose.