Cryptofono is a USSD-based stablecoin wallet that brings gasless crypto access to feature phones—no internet, no smartphone, just simple financial inclusion for everyone in Africa.
In much of Africa, especially in countries like Kenya, financial exclusion is still widespread due to systemic infrastructure limitations and digital barriers. While mobile money (like M-PESA) has transformed local finance, access to global, decentralized finance (DeFi) remains out of reach for most.
Here’s why:
🔌 Limited Internet Access
Many live in rural or peri-urban areas with expensive, unreliable, or unavailable mobile internet.
Public Wi-Fi is rare, and data plans are costly for low-income users.
📱 Low Smartphone Penetration
A large population still uses basic feature phones (Kabambe) that cannot run crypto or web3 apps.
Power supply issues and low digital literacy further limit smartphone usage.
🏦 Underserved by Traditional Banks
Banks often serve urban elites. Rural communities and informal workers are unbanked or underbanked.
Even with mobile money, access to savings, credit, and stable digital assets is limited.
⚠️ Crypto is Still Too Complicated
Crypto wallets assume users have internet, smartphones, and technical knowledge.
Wallet addresses, gas fees, and seed phrases are confusing.
Many apps require ETH for gas, adding a cost barrier.
Cryptofono is a USSD-based stablecoin wallet that lets users interact with the blockchain using any GSM phone — no internet or smartphone required.
Think of it like M-PESA, but for USDC and Ethereum — without needing airtime or bundles.
📞 USSD Interface: Works on any feature phone. Just dial *123# to access your wallet.
🌐 No Internet Needed: All interactions use USSD — like mobile banking or airtime top-ups.
🧠 Account Abstraction: Every user gets a smart contract wallet (ERC-4337) — no seed phrases or browser extensions.
💸 Gasless Transactions: Transactions are sponsored via Pimlico’s paymaster — users don’t need ETH.
💵 USDC Support: Users hold and transact with stablecoins, not volatile crypto.
Onboarding and transactions are available in Swahili and other local languages, ensuring accessibility for non-English speakers.
This reduces friction, improves trust, and helps drive adoption across linguistic and educational barriers.
Dial a short code to register as a user or merchant
Create a PIN — no smartphone, no app
Send/receive USDC, pay merchants, or withdraw to Ethereum wallets — via intuitive text menus
Merchants receive a unique merchant code to accept payments
Empowers rural communities, students, market vendors, boda boda riders, and informal workers
Enables cross-border remittances from diaspora to local wallets
Offers a safe, inflation-resistant savings option in digital USD (USDC)
Bridges the gap between mobile money and global crypto ecosystems
Cryptofono is built for the next billion users, with a special focus on inclusive finance in Kenya and across Africa. It combines the reliability of mobile money with the openness and programmability of crypto — all made accessible through simple USSD technology.
During the hackathon, we made significant progress in developing Cryptofono, a USSD-based stablecoin wallet aimed at driving financial inclusion in Kenya and across Africa. We successfully implemented the core blockchain infrastructure by deploying ERC-4337 compliant smart wallets on the Base blockchain. This account abstraction approach allows users to create and manage wallets linked directly to their phone numbers without the complexity of private keys or browser extensions. To further simplify transactions, we integrated Pimlico’s paymaster system, enabling gasless transactions on the Base network. As a result, users can transact in USDC without needing to acquire or hold Base tokens for gas fees, removing a critical barrier for first-time crypto users. We also developed and tested the USSD interface designed to replicate the familiar mobile money experience common in Kenya, allowing users to register, create a PIN, send and receive USDC, and pay merchants—all through simple text menus accessible on any GSM phone without internet connectivity. To enhance local relevance and ease of use, we added support for Swahili language prompts, facilitating smoother onboarding and fostering trust among native speakers. Early testing confirmed that Swahili localization significantly improves user engagement and comprehension. Throughout the hackathon, we gained valuable insights into optimizing USSD workflows, which must remain concise due to session and character limitations. Our experience confirmed that the combination of Base blockchain’s account abstraction and gasless transactions is vital to eliminating friction points for users unfamiliar with blockchain. These developments bring us closer to enabling millions of unbanked and underbanked Africans to access stable, reliable digital financial services using the devices they already own.
Cryptofono’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP) was developed during the hackathon, laying the foundation for a USSD-based stablecoin wallet tailored for Africa, especially Kenya. While we have not yet secured external funding, the MVP’s successful completion has validated the core concept and demonstrated feasibility. We are now preparing for user testing and early feedback, and actively seeking early-stage investors and partners to support further development, scaling, and rollout across the region