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.