A revolutionary blockchain-based cross-border mobile money platform connecting 630,000+ merchants across Africa. WakaPay transforms how Tanzania and Kenya exchange value—making international transfers as simple as local ones, with real-time rates and radical fee transparency.
Cross-border mobile money in East Africa was broken. Our research revealed a painful reality: families sending TZS 100,000 to Kenya lost TZS 8,000-12,000 to hidden fees. Exchange rate markups of 3-5% further eroded value. Transfers took 2-3 days through informal channels. The existing solutions—physical hawala networks, bank wires, and fragmented apps—all failed the people who needed them most: market traders, domestic workers sending remittances, and small businesses importing goods.
We built WakaPay from first principles. A blockchain-based agents' network creates a trustless bridge between M-Pesa (Kenya), Vodacom M-Pesa (Tanzania), Airtel Money, and Tigo Pesa. Smart contracts ensure transparent fee calculation—users see exactly what they pay before confirming. Exchange rates update every 30 seconds directly from Bank of Tanzania, eliminating markup games. The result: a 3-step payment flow that completes in under 60 seconds, with fees clearly displayed upfront.
How we brought this project to life
We embedded ourselves in the cross-border payment ecosystem. 50+ interviews with market traders in Kariakoo (Dar es Salaam) and Eastleigh (Nairobi) revealed the human cost of failed transfers. We mapped regulatory requirements across BOT, CBK, and PDPC. Competitive analysis of M-Pesa Global, WorldRemit, and informal hawala networks identified whitespace opportunities.
Designed blockchain infrastructure using distributed ledger technology for immutable transaction records. Created smart contracts handling multi-currency settlements with automatic reconciliation. Built secure APIs for MNO integration with end-to-end encryption. Architected offline-first mobile experience for low-connectivity environments.
Developed three user personas: Maria (domestic worker sending money home), Juma (cross-border trader), and Ahmed (mobile money agent). Each persona informed distinct user journeys. Created low-fidelity wireframes, then high-fidelity prototypes in Figma. Conducted 30 usability tests, iterating on the payment flow until completion rate exceeded 95%.
Crafted a design system that communicates trust and accessibility. Blue conveys security and reliability; green signals successful transactions. Typography prioritized readability across device sizes and lighting conditions. Created 40+ reusable components ensuring consistency across mobile app, agent dashboard, and merchant portal.
Built React Native app with offline-first architecture using WatermelonDB. Developed Next.js web platform for agents and merchants with real-time WebSocket updates. Integrated Bank of Tanzania rate APIs with 99.9% uptime SLA. Implemented biometric authentication and PIN security layers.
Navigated regulatory approval from Bank of Tanzania and PDPC. Completed penetration testing and security audits by independent firms. Implemented AML/KYC workflows meeting international standards. Achieved PCI DSS compliance for card payment integrations.
Soft-launched with 500 beta users across Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. Gathered feedback through in-app surveys and user interviews. Fixed critical bugs and optimized performance. Executed phased rollout: Tanzania first, Kenya expansion within 6 weeks.
The visual identity of this project
See the transformation
How it looks on different devices
See the project in action
Explore the design details
Measurable impact and outcomes
Integrated network
End-to-end
Cross-border transfers
User confidence
Play Store & App Store
Since launch
"WakaPay has fundamentally changed how East Africans move money across borders. The transparency Jackson built into every screen—showing exact fees, live rates, and instant confirmations—has restored trust in digital payments. Our agents went from skeptics to evangelists within weeks."
