Former Amazon Developer Creates Offline Bitcoin App for African Market, Boosting Adoption and Education

Kgothatso Ngako, a former software developer for Amazon, created the app Machankura, which allows users in Africa to send and receive bitcoin using the Lightning Network, without requiring a smartphone or internet connection. Before launching Machankura, Ngako founded Exonumia, an organization dedicated to translating Bitcoin literature into African languages. With over 15,000 users across several African countries, Machankura users are primarily using Bitcoin for everyday expenses such as purchasing gift cards for items like airtime, electricity, and groceries, as well as for economic “starters packs” and tabletop accounting groups. Additionally, many users are exploring Bitcoin simply to understand how it works. The usage patterns in Africa are surprising similar to those in the United States, with a smaller percentage of users regularly utilizing Bitcoin as a primary means of payment. Interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.