In today’s Bitcoin news, Tando, a mobile payment app available on Google Play and the App Store, allows users around the world to send Bitcoin via the Lightning Network directly to Kenyan phone numbers. Recipients can then access funds in Kenyan Shillings via M-Pesa without the need for a cryptocurrency wallet or KYC verification.
Targeting remittances, standalone payments and merchant transfers, Tando leverages a mobile money network that processed 40.2 trillion Kenyan shillings (about $312 billion) in transactions over the past year, with more than 32 million active users.
We’ve been on a side mission, and we have good news from the other side! 40 million Kenyans now have a Bitcoin Lightning address! They didn’t need to register for one because they had it all along, attached to the phone number in their pocket!
Try it: Send Bitcoin to… pic.twitter.com/MvjWl3nxmI
– Tando (@tando_me) May 12, 2026
This is not just another crypto app; It shows how the Bitcoin Lightning Network can gain traction by leveraging existing payment infrastructures. While major remittance operators are investigating stablecoin options, emerging startups in Kenya aim to establish a stronger foothold before these alternatives enter the market.
An operator that succeeds in achieving reliable liquidity on the Lightning-M-Pesa corridor could set fee standards for remittances in East Africa, reducing costs for traditional wire services for a long time.
Bitcoin News Today: Tando App and How the Lightning-to-M-Pesa Settlement Mechanism Actually Works
The mechanism works as follows: A sender from outside Kenya opens a Lightning-compatible wallet (supported wallets include Phoenix, Blink, Machankura, Strike, Bitkit, Zeus, Breeze, and Wallet of Satoshi) and sends a payment in Bitcoin to a Kenyan phone number registered on M-Pesa. Tando creates a Lightning invoice, receives the payment, converts it to Kenyan Shillings at the current exchange rate, and deposits the amount into the recipient’s M-Pesa account via Safaricom’s API.
The recipient only interacts with M-Pesa, receiving a mobile money credit similar to a local transfer. Tando co-founder Jeetu said that Tando does not control users’ funds, and acts as a “bridge to facilitate the transfer of value” rather than a custodial service.
Independent reviews of the pilot indicate that there are no additional charges for users beyond the standard M-Pesa tariffs, with Tando absorbing the costs during the adoption phase. However, reviewers noted glitches in the user experience: The app does not display the recipient’s name before confirmation, an important step to prevent fraud. It currently only supports Kenyan Shillings, which limits its ease of use for international senders. Tando’s non-custodial architecture distinguishes it from previous Bitcoin-to-mobile money transfer services such as BitPesa, which operated as a custodial intermediary before rebranding as AZA Finance.
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Mobile money services in Kenya and the competitive landscape: What the “lightning bridge” reveals about remittance infrastructure
Kenya is a critical test market for the integration of Lightning-Mobile Money services, with 73% of adults using M-Pesa. This dominance means that any payment protocol installed on M-Pesa can effectively reach most Kenyans without direct user takeover.
In other Bitcoin news today, competing services like Machankura, which launched in 2022, allow feature phone users to send and receive Bitcoin via USSD, offering a model for broader access. Meanwhile, Strike entered Africa in 2023, focusing on remittances from the US to Africa, but it lacks the specific depth of M-Pesa seen with Tando.
The success of this integration depends on maintaining sufficient Lightning liquidity, especially during peak transfer times. If Tando fails to meet these hikes, trust could be eroded among users who expect near-instant M-Pesa settlements.
The Central Bank of Kenya’s cautious stance on cryptocurrencies since 2015 adds another layer of complexity, as Tando’s structure may be viewed differently from direct cryptocurrency trading.
Tando and its partners plan to expand beyond Kenya into East Africa, suggesting the potential for Bitcoin Lightning to be integrated into the mass market payments network through M-Pesa.
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Daniel Francis is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. A crypto native since 2017, Daniel brings his background in cross-chain analytics to author evidence-based reports and detailed guides. It is certified by the Blockchain Council and is dedicated to providing “information gain” that cuts through the market noise to find blockchain’s real-world utility.
