Bitcoin Fuels Taxi, Steak and Coffee Payments in Kenya via Lightning

Bitcoin is now actively used for everyday Kenyan purchases including taxis, meals and coffee through Tando’s Lightning-M-Pesa bridge. Merchants receive instant Kenyan shillings directly in their M-Pesa accounts without holding crypto. The service launched in July 2024, reached over 100 daily transactions by mid-2025, and in May 2026 enabled 40 million users to receive Lightning payments via their phone numbers. The June-July 2026 expansion demonstrates growing real-world utility in Africa’s “spend not sell” Bitcoin movement while highlighting ongoing regulatory risks.