Can I buy bitcoin with Mpesa? Yes, you can. This article is a guide on how to buy bitcoin in Kenya with Mpesa. There are popular exchanges that one can buy cryptocurrencies using Mpesa in Kenya and other countries where Mpesa is available. Bitcoin is a digital currency that can be used to pay for products and services, as well as investment.
What is Mpesa? M-Pesa is a mobile phone-based money transfer, financing, and microfinancing service. Its services are available in Kenya, Tanzania, Albania, Ghana, Lesotho, Romania, Mozambique, India, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa, and DRC.
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What You Need to Buy Bitcoin
In order to buy cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, you need the following:
- A cryptocurrency exchange. A crypto exchange is a platform that allows its users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Popular crypto exchanges include Yellow Card, Kraken, and Coinbase.
- Payment method. Your payment method will depend on the exchange’s supported payment method. It can be a debit card, credit card, bank account, money transfer such as Transferwise, rebranded to Wise, mobile money such as M-Pesa, etc.
- Crypto wallet. Cryptocurrencies need to be safely stored in a secure digital wallet. You can use a hot wallet such as Muun, Samourai or a hardware (cold) wallet such as Trezor and Ledger.
Crypto Exchanges that Accept Mpesa
Mpesa is very popular in Kenya. So, there are many Mpesa users in the country who want to know how to buy bitcoin in Kenya with MPesa. There are several exchanged and platforms you can use to buy bitcoin through M-Pesa in Kenya without converting KShs to USD, GBP, or EUR. They include the following:
LocalBitcoins Mpesa: LocalBitcoins used to allow users to buy bitcoin with Mpesa in Kenya. The platform discontinued its service on February 9, 2023. For the next 12 months, existing LocalBitcoins customers will only be able to log in to withdraw their bitcoin.
Bitnob
Bitnob is a Nigerian crypto startup that launched its services in Kenya in September 2022. Bitnob app allows users in Kenya to transfer and receive bitcoin payments using Lightning into their Mpesa wallets. You can also fund and withdraw from your wallet using other mobile money services such as TKASH, and Airtel Money. In addition, you can receive money from your family or friends using Cash App or Strike in the US straight to your mobile money account.
Binance
You can buy Bitcoin on Binance using M-Pesa using Binance P2P platform. You’ll need to first log in to your Binance account and navigate to the “P2P Trading” tab. From there, select “Buy” and choose BTC as the cryptocurrency you want to purchase. Enter the desired amount of BTC and select M-Pesa as your payment method. Next, choose a reputable seller from the list and click the “Buy” button. Follow the instructions provided to complete the payment using M-Pesa. Once the payment is confirmed, the seller will release the BTC to your Binance wallet.
To deposit money into your Binance account from M-Pesa, you’ll need to link your M-Pesa account to your Binance account.
LocalCryptos Mpesa
LocalCryptos Kenya is a peer-to-peer marketplace where traders can buy and sell cryptocurrencies. To buy bitcoin, you will first need to sign up on LocalCryptos then search for M-Pesa bitcoin sellers on the platform. When you find a reputable seller, transfer the amount of money you want to use to buy bitcoin from your M-Pesa account to the seller. Buying bitcoin with M-Pesa on LocalCryptos takes only 7 minutes.
How to Withdraw Bitcoins to M-Pesa
To withdraw BTC to M-Pesa, you will first need to convert it to Kenya Shillings. Converting bitcoins requires you to sell off your bitcoins to a buyer who deals in M-Pesa. You can convert bitcoin to M-Pesa by selling your bitcoin on the exchange platform you bought your crypto from or any other platform listed above.
How to Convert Bitcoin to M-Pesa on LocalCryptos
Create an account or log in to your existing LocalCryptos account. Transfer BTC to LocalCryptos and search for a suitable buyer. Once you find a buyer, open a trade and enter the amount you want to sell and lock in the price. The buyer will receive a notification alerting them of the trade. Then, move your BTC to the decentralized escrow. This will start a countdown timer, telling the buyer how long they have to make the payment. Then, send your payment details to the buyer, who will send the payment to your M-Pesa account. The buyer will then click on “Mark As Paid” to confirm payment. Release the bitcoin to the buyer after confirming payment.
Coinbase to Mpesa. Does Coinbase accept Mpesa? No. You can only buy cryptocurrency on Coinbase Kenya using debit and credit cards.
Final Thoughts on How to Buy Bitcoin in Kenya With M-Pesa
Cryptocurrencies are increasingly becoming popular in Africa, particularly Kenya. It’s possible to buy bitcoin in Kenya with M-Pesa, the most popular mobile money service in Kenya. It is a convenient and straightforward process. Several reputable cryptocurrency exchanges support M-Pesa payments, making it easy to purchase Bitcoin using Kenyan shilling. They include Bitnob, Binance, and LocalCryptos. When buying crypto via Mpesa, it is important to deal with genuine traders. Do thorough research to avoid falling victim to crypto scams.
Send, Deposit, Exchange, and Buy Bitcoin with Telegram Online
- It is now possible to buy cryptocurrency, receive, exchange and send to other wallets for free using the instant messaging app, Telegram. At the moment, you can only buy with a bank card.
- To use the feature, open the Telegram messenger and click “/start” and select the options showing depending on whether you want to buy, send, receive or deposit cryptocurrency. You should also add it to the menu (for easy access).
