Moctar BouraimaMachankura is a new service operating in 6 African countries that allows you to send and receive Bitcoin on a simple cell phone.
The latest innovations in financial technology have been exploding in Africa for more than two decades. We can think of M-Pesa which paved the way for mobile payment, 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 who know the financial subtleties of the continent to see that the first state currency was launched in the Central African Republic with 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:
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.
Likewise, you can also go to the Machankura website 8833.mobi directly to send bitcoin to the phone number in question.
Final word on the Machankura service:
Machankura addresses key obstacles that may prevent mass adoption of bitcoin in the continent. Not having access to the internet and not having smartphones are the two big problems to overcome. This is precisely what Machankura does brilliantly. There is a solution for sending bitcoin to WhatsApp but this is not valid for villages which do not have internet access.
We can only salute the founders of this project who knew how to innovate despite the difficulties. We also know that Ghana, the service is experiencing good adoption.
There is now an alternative to buy bitcoin with CFA franc thanks to Machankura. However, if you want to do it on online platforms, read the article to know 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 live on the continent, be aware that Binance in Africa organizes numerous meetings in Africa.
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Note: No financial advice is given in this or any other article on zonebitcoin. This is information of which you are the sole judge and master. Be responsible with your investments and only invest as much as you are willing to lose.
