How One Idea Is Making Crypto Accessible Without Internet ft. Felix Macharia | Kotani Pay

About this episode

On this episode of "After Hours, in partnership with Tanqueray Africa," we speak with Felix Macharia, a trained medical doctor turned crypto entrepreneur who's revolutionizing financial access across Africa through Kotani Pay, a platform enabling people without smartphones to transact in cryptocurrency via simple USSD codes.Felix's journey began in 2016 at the University of Nairobi School of Medicine, where sharing a room with software developers exposed him to the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution technologies.While his roommates experimented with VR headsets, robotics, and neural networks, blockchain technology captured their collective imagination not just for its financial potential, but because it was permissionless. For the first time, Felix could participate in global markets simply with an internet connection. The turning point came at a meetup in Kibra, where data annotators were being paid in stablecoins for training AI algorithms. The challenge? Converting crypto to cash required dangerous daily exchanges with cash couriers.Felix and his team solved this by bridging crypto wallets with local payment systems, eventually creating USSD-based wallets for feature phone users, bringing blockchain technology to refugees, farmers, and underserved communities across Africa.Today, Kotani Pay addresses Africa's critical dollar shortage crisis. With African nations importing heavily while holding dollar-denominated debts, local businesses face crippling currency scarcity.Stablecoins offer a lifeline $60 billion moved to Nigerian wallets alone between 2023-2024, with billions more across South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana. From importers paying suppliers in Dubai to startups paying remote workers across borders, stablecoins are democratizing access to US dollars and slashing transaction costs from 8-16% to mere cents.Felix's vision extends beyond payments to wealth democratization. In societies where colonial legacies concentrated land ownership and banking systems prioritize collateral most young people don't have, blockchain offers an alternative path. A Gen Z with internet access can earn, hold, and use crypto assets to fund their dreams just as Felix funded Kotani Pay without traditional bank loans.Now licensed in South Africa and pursuing compliance in Kenya, Kotani Pay exemplifies how African innovators are shaping Web 3's promise: read, write, and own. Felix's message to the next generation is clear: learn these technologies, take courageous steps, build with aligned teams, and leverage the fourth industrial revolution to create opportunities that conventional systems cannot provide. The future of African prosperity may well be permissionless

To keep up with Felix's journey, check out his LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-machariaCheck out Kotani Pay:https://kotanipay.com/__________________________________________________________________Join Alice as she explores the world of tech and shares impactful stories with guests on My Tech Story Africa!Subscribe to our podcast, drop a like, comment, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content.Don't forget to spread the word! Sharing is caring! 🌟Follow us on social media:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytechstoryafrica💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-tech-story-africa♪ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mytechstoryafricaJoin our community: [https://www.mtsafrica.co/join]Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Apply here: https://forms.gle/ffAniezzFHoEvhPY7Interested in partnering with us? Drop us an email: [email protected] 📧