Tando
Spend Bitcoin anywhere M-Pesa is accepted in Kenya with instant Lightning-to-KES conversion at zero fees.
Why We Recommend Tando
Tando operates as a payment disbursement service registered in Nairobi, Kenya under Kenyan law. The company explicitly states it does not operate as a digital asset exchange, does not sell or trade digital assets, and does not convert one digital asset to another. Users send bitcoin to Tando as payment for a service, and Tando independently arranges disbursement of Kenyan Shillings to the recipient.
The service is designed with a clear operational model: Tando maintains a KES balance backend for payouts, enabling instant settlement to M-Pesa recipients. The company was founded by Bitcoiners who emphasize that Africans should build Bitcoin solutions for Africans, with a focus on practical Bitcoin adoption rather than speculation.
Best For
Tando is ideal for anyone who wants to spend bitcoin for everyday purchases in Kenya without requiring merchants to change their existing payment systems. This includes Kenyan residents who hold bitcoin and want to use it for daily expenses like groceries, taxi rides, and bills at any of the millions of M-Pesa accepting merchants across the country.
Tourists and visitors to Kenya who hold bitcoin will find Tando particularly useful for seamless spending without needing to exchange currency through traditional channels. The service also appeals to Bitcoin newcomers who want to experience using bitcoin as a medium of exchange rather than just holding it as an investment.
Remittance senders who want to send bitcoin to recipients in Kenya benefit from Tando's ability to deliver funds directly to M-Pesa accounts, allowing recipients to receive familiar Kenyan Shillings without needing to understand or handle bitcoin themselves.
Services & Features
- Lightning-to-M-Pesa payments
- Zero transaction fees
- Instant BTC-to-KES conversion
- Works with any Lightning wallet
- Pay any M-Pesa till number
- No merchant integration needed
Considerations
Service is limited to Kenya only with payments to M-Pesa recipients. KYC and compliance checks may be required. No public information available on security practices, custody model, or proof of reserves.
