Kenya’s Mobile Money Giant M-Pesa Integrates With Ethereum Layer-2 for Global Payments
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Kenya’s mobile money pioneer M-Pesa has announced a landmark integration with an Ethereum Layer-2 (L2) network, opening the door for seamless global payments and cross-border remittances. The move marks one of the boldest steps yet in bridging Africa’s most successful fintech service with decentralized finance (DeFi).
The integration allows M-Pesa’s more than 60 million active users across Africa to send and receive funds through the Ethereum L2 at lower costs and with faster settlement times compared to traditional payment rails. By leveraging the scalability and reduced gas fees of L2 solutions, M-Pesa aims to expand its reach beyond regional transactions and become a truly global payment player.
Safaricom, the telecom giant behind M-Pesa, said the upgrade will help reduce reliance on costly intermediaries such as correspondent banks and remittance service providers. “Cross-border transactions from Africa are often burdened by high fees and delays. This integration changes the game by giving our users instant access to blockchain-based payments at a fraction of the cost,” a Safaricom executive noted.
Industry experts say the partnership could reshape remittance corridors between Africa and regions like the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, where millions of migrant workers send money home. Traditionally, Africans have paid some of the highest fees worldwide for remittances, with costs averaging between 6–9%. With the Ethereum L2 support, those fees could drop to under 1%.
The rollout will also include a crypto-to-fiat conversion feature, enabling users to cash out funds in local currencies directly within M-Pesa’s mobile app. Early pilot programs are expected to start in Kenya and Tanzania, with expansion to Nigeria and South Africa planned in 2026.
While regulators in Kenya and other African markets have expressed caution toward cryptocurrencies, M-Pesa emphasized that the integration complies with anti-money laundering (AML) standards and will work under a regulatory sandbox in partnership with central banks.
By blending the convenience of mobile money with the efficiency of blockchain, M-Pesa is positioning itself as a gateway for Africa into the global digital economy. If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for other mobile money services worldwide looking to embrace Web3 infrastructure.
