SMS-based Bitcoin transfer service launched in South Africa

In South Africa, developer Kgotatso Ngako has launched an SMS service Machankura. It enables Bitcoin transfers without internet access.

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

“Anyone […] can go from not having Bitcoin to having it, and then to spending it,” Ngako explained in an interview Cointelegraph.

An enthusiast expects that, thanks to the service, millions of Africans will gain access to the first cryptocurrency. Manchakura currently operates in six countries. According to the developer, Paxful has expressed interest in integration.

Manchakura is available to feature-phone users. The app does not require internet, does not take up much space, and does not entail significant costs for users. SIM cards act as private keys.

Customers dial a number, then land in a menu where they can learn more about Bitcoin or register an account.

“All you need to create an account is a five-digit PIN. After that, access to sending and receiving Bitcoins will appear“, Ngako explained.

Manchakura runs on a Lightning Network. The phone number is effectively bound to the network wallet.

The service is integrated with the Bitrefill platform.

Kgotatso Ngako noted potential issues for Manchakura stemming from government stances. Concerns are also raised by the presence of a centralized intermediary, which could deter some users.

Earlier, Blockstream’s chief strategy officer Samson Mow спрогнозировал that the Lightning Network would make Bitcoin a global means of exchange.

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