M-pesa Africa collaborates with the ADI Basis for integration ADI Chain, a sovereign-grade Layer 2 blockchain, for its mobile money operations in eight African countries, potentially reaching 60 million users.
Bridging traditional mobile money and the internet3
M-pesa Africa and the ADI Foundation recently announced a strategic partnership to integrate institutional-grade blockchain infrastructure into the mobile money platform’s network, potentially reaching more than 60 million monthly users across eight African countries.
The collaboration will be deployed ADI Chain, a powerful Layer 2 blockchain, for M-pesa’s operations in Kenya, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania. The move aims to create “digital rails” for individuals and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to access faster cross-border settlements and stablecoin-based transactions.
Since its founding in 2007, M-pesa has been a global leader in financial inclusion, allowing users to bypass traditional banking barriers via mobile devices. This new partnership aims to build on that infrastructure by adding decentralized capabilities designed to meet modern regulatory standards.
“M-Pesa has been great in terms of financial inclusion,” said Huy Nguyen Trieu, councilor of the ADI Board of Advisors of the Foundation. “We believe we can take this one step further by providing the right digital infrastructure… The foundation’s infrastructure can act as building blocks to accelerate digital transformation.”
The partnership comes at a time when demand for digital assets is increasing in Africa. Data from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission reported $50 billion in crypto transactions in the year ending June 2024, with many users turning to stablecoins to hedge against local currency volatility.
Also read: Study: Bitcoin dominates crypto purchases in Nigeria, South Africa
Strategic focus on sovereignty and compliance
The ADI Founded in 2024 by Sirius International Holding (the technology arm of the $240 billion UAE conglomerate IHC), Foundation focuses on sovereign-grade systems. Unlike retail-oriented blockchains, ADI The chain is said to be designed to operate within the specific regulatory and safety restrictions of national governments.
A key part of the rollout, expected in early 2026, is support for a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin. The stablecoin, issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC under the supervision of the UAE Central Bank, will provide a blueprint for how mobile money platforms can manage cross-border trading with price stability.
“We are excited to be working with ADI Foundation to leverage their expertise around new technologies and how they can transform financial services,” said Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO of M-pesa Africa.
The ADI Foundation currently maintains partnerships in 20 countries with more than 50 institutional projects. This M-pesa deal represents the most important step towards the stated goal of introducing one billion people to blockchain by 2030.
Frequently asked questions ❓
- Which countries are involved in the rollout? Kenya, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania.
- Which blockchain is integrated? ADI Chain, a Layer 2 system built for speed and compliance.
- How many users could benefit from this? More than 60 million monthly M-Pesa customers in eight African countries.
- What is the most important innovation? UAE dirham-backed stablecoin enables faster, stable cross-border settlements.