M-Pesa Africa is making a major leap into blockchain by partnering with the ADI Foundation, aiming to extend secure digital infrastructure to over 60 million users across eight African nations.
Key Takeaways
- M-Pesa Africa will integrate ADI Chain, a sovereign-grade Layer 2 blockchain, across operations in Kenya, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
- The partnership will enable faster cross-border settlements, stablecoin transactions, and expanded financial services.
- A UAE dirham-backed stablecoin, issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC, will support cross-border commerce with price stability.
- This initiative supports the ADI Foundation’s vision to onboard one billion people to blockchain by 2030, with Africa as a strategic focus.
What Happened?
M-Pesa Africa has entered into a strategic alliance with the ADI Foundation to integrate blockchain into its mobile money ecosystem. The integration will use ADI Chain, a high-performance blockchain designed to meet government-grade regulatory and security standards, with a goal to improve cross-border payment capabilities and enhance financial inclusion across Africa.
M-Pesa will introduce blockchain-based transactions in Ethiopia under a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s ADI Foundation, integrating ADI Chain into mobile money services, subject to National Bank of Ethiopia regulations.
— Birrmetrics (@birrmetrics) January 13, 2026
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Expanding Africa’s Financial Infrastructure
This partnership is not about disrupting existing systems but enhancing them. M-Pesa, which revolutionized mobile payments in Africa since its 2007 launch, will now gain blockchain capabilities to serve individuals and SMEs with secure, scalable digital tools.
- ADI Chain will function as the foundation for cross-border settlements, helping M-Pesa users send and receive funds more efficiently.
- The integration allows users to transact in a dirham-backed stablecoin, helping them avoid local currency instability.
- The partnership reinforces M-Pesa’s reach, combining its proven mobile money infrastructure with blockchain’s transparency and speed.
According to ADI Foundation council member Huy Nguyen Trieu:
A Blueprint for Regulated Blockchain Adoption
A standout feature of the initiative is its focus on regulatory compliance. The ADI Chain was built to align with national and institutional standards, making it a viable solution for African governments and enterprises.
- The UAE dirham-backed stablecoin, regulated by the UAE Central Bank and issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC, offers a compliance-friendly structure for integrating blockchain into mobile money platforms.
- ADI Chain employs ZKsync’s Airbender technology, a cutting-edge zero-knowledge proof system for efficient and private transactions.
- Infrastructure partners like Alchemy, WalletConnect, and Covalent help ensure the network is technically robust.
Nguyen Trieu emphasized that Africa is a primary market for ADI’s growth, adding that a large portion of the foundation’s goal to onboard a billion users will come from the continent.
Africa’s Growing Appetite for Crypto
The move comes amid a surge in demand for digital assets in Africa. Data from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission revealed over $50 billion in crypto transactions in the year ending June 2024. Stablecoins are particularly popular as tools to hedge against local currency devaluation and to support cross-border commerce.
Chainalysis has reported a significant rise in stablecoin usage in merchant settlements and energy sector transactions between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The M-Pesa and ADI Foundation partnership aims to tap into this momentum by offering compliant and efficient blockchain tools to everyday users.
A Model for Other Developing Economies
M-Pesa’s reach and credibility in emerging markets make it a key launch partner for the ADI Foundation. Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO of M-Pesa Africa, said:
Sirius International Holding, the tech arm of IHC and founder of the ADI Foundation, envisions this project as a scalable model for other countries seeking blockchain adoption without undermining regulatory control.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience watching fintech evolve across Africa, this is a game-changing partnership. M-Pesa already proved how mobile technology can close banking gaps. Now, with blockchain, it’s setting up the next generation of financial tools. What I found most impressive is how this partnership stays grounded in regulation while still offering innovation. It’s not flashy crypto speculation. It’s real infrastructure for real people. If successful, this model could be a benchmark for other mobile money platforms across the globe.
