Machankura

Sep 20, 2025

Africa is advancing, innovating and building, yet it continues to face numerous challenges, notably Internet connectivity and access to basic financial services.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, by 2024, Africa's Internet penetration rate (the ratio of the number of people using the Internet to the continent's total population) was 38%, compared with 68% worldwide.

With regard to access to financial services, money transfer services (mobile money) have seen a boom on the continent, following the difficulties of accessing bank credit services.

Faced with this situation, Kgothatso Ngako, a South African developer, has created a revolutionary solution that enables this unbanked, internet-less segment of African society to benefit from Bitcoin with his project called Machankura.

WHAT IS MACHANKURA?

Machankura, South African slang for "money", is a project whose vision is to connect rural Africa to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

It's a custodial wallet that lets you send and receive bitcoins on the Lightning Network via USSD technology. Machankura works on all phones, even the most basic (Symbian phone), using the traditional GSM network.

The 8333.mobi that usually appears at the bottom of the logo is a subtle nod. Indeed, 8333 is the default port used by Bitcoin nodes to communicate with each other. Machankura shows that Africa is not on the sidelines of this revolution, and is a land of innovation in this field.

The .mobi domain is designed for mobile services running on basic phones via USSD. The 8333.mobi therefore sums up the special features of the Machankura solution.

Before continuing with this tutorial, let's take a look at USSD, the technology that enables Machankura to be used without the Internet.

USSD

USSD (Unstructured supplementary Service Data) technology is generally used by GSM mobile operators. It's a feature that allows you to communicate with a remote service, even without the Internet, using specific codes and selecting an option according to the possibilities offered by the service.

In a USSD communication process, imagine typing a special code like *123# on your phone. By executing this USSD code, you send a specific request to your GSM network to access the service linked to this code.

You can therefore use the USSD to carry out actions such as consulting your Internet package, call credit balance, etc.

It is via this same communication system that mobile banking and mobile money transfers such as M-PESA, MTN Mobile Money, etc. have developed on the continent.

As we said earlier, developed specifically for Africa, this service works on all phones, with no complex technical configuration or Internet connection required.

Machankura innovation

Unlike a conventional wallet solution, Machankura was able to use USSD technology to address a real problem facing the people of Africa: Internet coverage.

Machankura is a service developed and then linked to a GSM code to enable users to receive and send bitcoins without Internet. You can use the service in the following countries using the associated USSD code:

COUNTRY	USSD CODE
Ghana	`9208333#`
Kenya	`4838333#`
Malawi	`3848333#`
Namibia	`1428333#`
Nigeria	`3478333#`
South Africa	`54052.co.za`
Tanzania	`SMS +255 679 066 977`
Uganda	`SMS +256 744 830 624`
Zambia	`3848333#`
Côte d'Ivoire	`*9141#`

Based on this table, we can see that countries such as Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa have no specific USSD code for the service.

However, Machankura is addressing this problem by extending its functionality via its website, SMS messaging and WhatsApp.

To be informed of new countries where the service will be available, please consult their website regularly.

This step-by-step tutorial explains how to use Machankura, first on a basic phone without Internet, then on a smartphone.

Smartphone-free operation (via USSD)

Create your wallet

For your first connection :

Enter the USSD code corresponding to your country;
Press the call button to start.

The system will ask you to create a 5-digit PIN code

Choose a secure PIN code (5 digits).
Confirm your PIN code.
Your Bitcoin wallet is created instantly.

This Bitcoin wallet is associated with your telephone number. The carefully chosen PIN code will encrypt your wallet and will also be used to confirm all your future transactions on Machankura.

Once your wallet has been created, you will access the main menu with the following options:

Send bitcoins
Receive bitcoins
Account details
Buying goods/services
Change/reset PIN code
Output

To access any option in the main menu, simply press the sequence number to which it is associated.

To access "account details", select option 3 and press the call key to launch.

Safety and best practices

Machankura is a custodial Lightning wallet, so your bitcoins are managed via Machankura nodes. Your account is protected by your chosen PIN code.

Don't set a PIN code in connection with an important date in your life.
Never share your PIN code with anyone.
Memorize your PIN code.
Always check phone numbers before sending.
Keep a reasonable balance for everyday use.

Your wallet is linked to your phone number:

If you lose your phone, contact Machankura support;
Keep track of your important transactions.

Receive bitcoins

Select the order number of the "Receive Bitcoins" option in the main menu.
Your phone number serves as your public address.
Share your number with the person who wants to send you bitcoins.

Custom Lightning address

Each Machankura account is assigned a Lightning address based on your Machankura number

[email protected]

Example: a +2371234567890 number will become [email protected]

However, you can choose a custom user name to replace the number (e.g. [email protected]).

Anyone with your Lightning address can send you bitcoins without knowing your phone number.

Reloading your Machankura wallet

In addition to receiving bitcoins from another Lightning wallet, you can replenish your Machankura wallet with Azteco and 1Voucher from the Flash Group.

Azteco and Flash Group are two companies that offer Bitcoin vouchers, i.e. prepaid voucher services that you can buy online or from resellers to obtain Bitcoin without going through an exchange platform. These vouchers work like gift cards. There are On-Chain and Lightning vouchers.

The process is simple:

You buy a voucher for a fixed amount;
You receive a 16-digit code by e-mail or on a small invoice.

Enter your country's USSD MACHANKURA code on your phone.
Wait for the main menu to appear.
Select the order number of the ''Receive bitcoins'' option.
Enter the 16-digit code (the Azteco voucher reference code at the bottom of the voucher or the 1Voucher PIN code on the invoice).

Bitcoins equivalent to the amount of the voucher purchased are added directly to your Machankura wallet.

Send Bitcoins

Go to the main menu.
Select the "Send Bitcoin" option by entering its order number.
Enter either the recipient's phone number, Lightning address or Machankura username.
Then enter the amount to be sent in Sats.
Confirm with your PIN code.

Machankura then sends the bitcoins via Lightning Network in a matter of seconds. The sender can also send bitcoins in other currencies, including local currencies.

If the recipient's number has not yet been registered as a user, Machankura will pre-register and then credit your recipient's account.

A message is automatically sent to the pre-registered number, and the user receives his bitcoins once he has confirmed his registration with the service.

You can watch the video sending demo of bitcoins by PIO TARAS (Lead Machankura Afrique Francophone) via Machankura on a basic phone.

Video from Vladimir FOMENE, Bitcoin developer :

Check your balance

Select the order number of the "Balance" option in the main menu.
Your balance is displayed in satoshis and local currency equivalents.

Transaction history

Select the sequence number of the ''History'' option in the main menu.
View your latest transactions (shipments and receipts).
Check the details of each transaction.

Additional features

Machankura isn't just a wallet. You can exchange your satoshis for goods and services (e.g. Bitrefill or Lightning Watts gift cards) directly from the app.

BitrefillHow to buy goods and services with BTC using Bitrefill?

You also have the "Clan" function, which allows you to manage a cooperative multi-signature system: clan members must approve each expense, and you can automatically distribute the funds among them.

Use with a smartphone

Machankura has chosen WhatsApp as its intermediary platform for smartphone use.

There are two main reasons for this. The first step is to make the solution more accessible to Africans, without forcing them to install an application: an application they could easily uninstall if their phone ran out of storage memory.

The second, which is a logical extension of the first, is to be an inclusive and local solution, using an application that is widely used by Africans in their daily exchanges: WhatsApp.

Create your wallet

To get started, you need to write a message to Machankura's WhatsApp bot (a simple "Hi" is more than enough). His WhatsApp number is +27 73 762 5720.

It will ask you to choose the language in which you would like to chat.

Once you've chosen your language, you'll be taken to the main menu.

Answer 1 which corresponds to the "Create an account" option.
Enter a unique e-mail address.

Your Machankura account is automatically created. Return to the menu to define your username.

To do it:

Answer 0, which corresponds to the ''Parameters'' option;
Then answer 1, which corresponds to the ''User name'' option.

The bot will then send you a 6-digit code which you need to type in, then choose your username. Once you've updated your username, head back to the menu to take advantage of sending and receiving bitcoins via Machankura.

Send bitcoins

Machankura allows you to send your bitcoins via different options:

telephone number ;
lightning address, this human-readable Bitcoin address format is much more widely used to avoid typing errors when making payments;
receiver username, for payments to a Machankura account;
gW-15 invoice, a standard Lightning invoice;
gW-16 address, via the Boltz service.

BoltzSwap between different Bitcoin layers while maintaining control.

Machankura enables interoperability between different Lightning wallets. In this demonstration, we send bitcoins from our Machankura WhatsApp wallet to a Wallet of Satoshi wallet.

Wallet of SatoshiThe simplest custodial wallet to get started

To send, please enter the number 1, corresponding to the "SEND BTC" option. Next, select the "Lightning address" sending option, then enter the address to which the bitcoins are to be sent. Finally, select the "Sats" value measure, indicate the number of satoshis to be sent and confirm the shipment.

Congratulations! You've just sent satoshis to your recipient.

Receive bitcoins

Once in the menu, select 2, which corresponds to the option ''Receive BTC''. The bot will display your Lightning address.

It also offers a variety of options, including :

USING BTC;
Bill LN (Bolt11);
The QR code ;
On-Chain address.

Option 1 ''USE BTC'' allows you to top up your account with an Azteco voucher.

Option 4 ''A ONE-TIME ADDRESS'' allows you to obtain a new single-use On-Chain address for greater anonymity.

The other options redirect you to a web page linked to your Lightning address.

You can purchase :

or the QR code from your wallet ;

or generate a Lightning invoice on this web page.

For an accurate invoice, please indicate the unit of account and the amount of bitcoins in that unit of account you would like to receive.

After entering the amount in this unit of account, the system takes care of converting the equivalent into Bitcoin, and vice versa.

Note that you can also obtain your On-Chain address on the web page linked to your wallet.

What's more, Machankura makes it possible for anyone wishing to send you bitcoins to do so from your website, using its dedicated wallet. All you have to do is send them the link to the web page associated with your Lightning address. Once they've accessed this web page, they'll be able to open your QR code or invoice directly in their wallet.

BlinkComplete Blink Wallet Tutorial - Send, Receive, and Use Bitcoin with Ease

Bitkit WalletSet up your self-custodial on-chain and Lightning Wallet

Balance check

You can view your Machankura wallet balance by selecting option 3, which corresponds to the "Balance and history" option.

Congratulations! You are now able to use Machankura yourself to receive and spend bitcoins.

If you found this tutorial useful, please leave me a green thumb below. Thank you very much!

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Author

This tutorial has been written by Marshal

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Marshal

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Hello!! As a lawyer and audiovisual content producer, I am a curious mind who enjoys learning new things. Since 2020, I have been interested in finance, blockchain, and Bitcoin. Next step: now I want to share my knowledge.

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