Micro-Merchants & Traders
Afribit works with mama mbogas, barbers, food vendors, restaurants, and small retailers to make Bitcoin usable in daily trade. The goal is not symbolic adoption. It is a durable network of merchants who can earn, keep, and recirculate value inside Kibera.
40+
Active merchants
2,000+
Bitcoin transactions
100%
Lightning-enabled payments
Circular resilience in practice
The Micro-Merchants & Traders program works directly with local business owners across Kibera to integrate Bitcoin as a practical payment method, backed by onboarding, point-of-sale support, and ongoing field mentorship.
“I was the first merchant selling fries, juice, and porridge. Thanks to my Bitcoin earnings, I bought a motorbike and expanded my business. Bitcoin has not just helped me grow; it has given me the confidence to dream even bigger.”
Steph
Food merchant and Bitcoin advocate
What we provide
Merchant support goes beyond wallet setup.
The program combines practical Bitcoin education with the merchant tools required to keep transactions flowing after launch day.
Bitcoin Education & Onboarding
Hands-on training covering Bitcoin basics, Lightning usage, wallet setup, security, and merchant-specific transaction handling.
Point-of-Sale Solutions
Setup for Blink wallets, BTCPay tools, QR signage, and contactless payment flows tailored to small informal businesses.
Ongoing Support & Community
Regular check-ins, troubleshooting support, and a live merchant network for peer learning and repeat use.
Global Visibility
Listings on BTC Map and Afribit surfaces help merchants attract Bitcoin-savvy locals, visitors, and supporters.
How it works
A four-step path from curiosity to active acceptance.
Initial Consultation
Afribit meets merchants, explains Bitcoin in plain language, and checks whether the business is ready for simple day-to-day use.
Training Workshop
Merchants learn wallets, security, pricing, and how Lightning payments feel at the counter before going live.
Setup & Installation
Wallets, QR codes, signage, and payment flows are configured so the shop can start accepting sats immediately.
Go Live & Support
Afribit stays close after launch to solve issues early and help Bitcoin become a repeat payment option, not a one-off experiment.
Goals
The long-term target is a dense merchant economy, not isolated storefronts.
100 Merchants by 2026
Scale merchant onboarding
Expand the current network across Kibera with stronger category coverage and repeat usage.
Category Diversity
Broaden where sats can be spent
Build representation across food, retail, services, transport, and entertainment.
Peer-to-Peer Ecosystem
Keep value circulating locally
Encourage merchants to transact with each other for supplies and services in Bitcoin.
International Tourism
Create outside demand
Bring Bitcoin-aware visitors into Kibera in ways that support local businesses directly.
Support this work
Support Micro-Merchants
Your donation helps Afribit onboard more local businesses, provide merchant training, and maintain the payment infrastructure that keeps a circular Bitcoin economy alive in Kibera.
Why this matters
Afribit programs work because they connect real livelihoods to repeatable Bitcoin use. Funding helps keep training, tools, and field execution close to the community.