Tando sends Bitcoin to Kenyan phones, deposits into M-PESA

Tando, a mobile payments app built in Kenya, now allows users to send Bitcoin over the Lightning Network to any Kenyan phone number and have the value deposited as Kenyan shillings into the recipient’s M-PESA account. Recipients do not need a crypto wallet, seed phrases, or knowledge of Bitcoin to receive funds.

Senders using the Tando app can route Bitcoin over Lightning from anywhere in the world to a Kenyan mobile number. On receipt, the Bitcoin is converted into Kenyan shillings (KES) and pushed into the recipient’s M-PESA mobile money account. The recipient sees a standard mobile money payment on their phone.

The service uses the Lightning Network, a second-layer protocol built on top of Bitcoin that processes transactions within seconds and with very low fees. Tando says it does not take custody of users’ Bitcoin during transfers and presents itself as a payment disbursement service rather than a digital asset exchange.

According to the company, that classification means it does not operate under the same regulatory framework applied to exchanges, including the heavier know-your-customer checks those platforms typically perform. Tando’s design hides the cryptocurrency mechanics from recipients so people unfamiliar with digital assets can receive money in a familiar format.

M-PESA, launched in 2007, provides the technical infrastructure for the service. Mobile money accounts reach a large share of Kenyan adults, allowing Tando to deliver converted funds directly to existing users without requiring banks or new software on recipients’ phones.

Tando positions the service for remittances and everyday payments where senders use Bitcoin but recipients prefer local currency in mobile money. The company also points to potential use by merchants and individuals who do not want to manage crypto wallets.

Other applications using Lightning to move value into African mobile-money systems include Strike and Machankura, which are developing similar payment corridors. Tando’s distinguishing features are its direct integration with M-PESA and its approach of converting Bitcoin into shillings on delivery.