Bitcoin and Rice: Building a Sats-Based Business in Malawi 🇲🇼 \ stacker news ~econ

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Bitcoin and Rice: Building a Sats-Based Business in Malawi 🇲🇼

598 sats \ 13 comments \ @021f3af1a6 9 Jun econ

Hi stackers, I’m a university student in Malawi bootstrapping a rice business to support my studies and living costs. I’m selling high-quality locally grown rice, and I accept Bitcoin (on-chain or Lightning).

If you’re in Malawi or want to support circular BTC economies in Africa, I’d love to connect. I’m also open to:

Small rice exports or local pickups

Selling via Bitcoin for sats

Accepting micro-donations to help expand my stock

Let’s build a Bitcoin economy, one grain at a time! DM me or reply if interested — happy to share photos, prices, and more.

💡 Location: Lilongwe, Malawi 🙏 Every sat I’m a student in Malawi building a small rice-selling business using Bitcoin. Where I live (Namitete, near Lilongwe), most people rely on cash and have little trust in banks. Bitcoin offers a new possibility — but adoption is still low.

I’m experimenting with:

Selling rice for sats

Onboarding friends and family with simple Lightning wallets

Learning how to price goods in BTC in a high-inflation environment

I plan to post updates here: what’s working, what’s not, and what Malawi’s informal economy looks like from the ground up. If you're curious about African Bitcoin use or want to support these experiments, I'm open to feedback, sats, or ideas.

Stacking in the warm heart of Africa

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0 sats \ 6 replies \ @Undisciplined 9 Jun

What are the biggest reservations about using bitcoin there?

42 sats \ 5 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

Great question. In Malawi, the biggest reservations I’ve noticed are:

Lack of awareness – Most people still don’t know what Bitcoin is, or they confuse it with scams.
Internet access – Many rural areas have poor connectivity, and smartphones are not widespread.
Volatility – The price swings scare people who already struggle financially. They want stable value.
No official support – Bitcoin isn’t banned, but it's also not recognized, so businesses and banks don’t use it.
Education gap – Few resources are available in local languages to teach people how to use it safely.

But for someone like me—young, curious, and with a phone—it's a powerful tool. I can save, sell rice, and learn, all without needing a bank

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Undisciplined 9 Jun

Are there any merchants you do business with who accept bitcoin?

42 sats \ 3 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

Not many yet in my area, but I’m working on building connections with local merchants who are open to accepting Bitcoin. It’s still early days, but I’m hopeful that as awareness grows, more businesses will start accepting it. How about you? Any experiences with Bitcoin-friendly merchants?

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 9 Jun

Only online

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

Nice! Online is a great start. Have you ever used Bitcoin to buy something digital or physical online? I’m hoping to try that soon myself as I learn more. Any favorite sites or platforms you’d recommend?

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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

ever used Bitcoin to buy something digital or physical online? I’m hoping to try that soon myself as I learn more. Any favorite sites or platforms you’d recommend?

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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @AG 9 Jun

Here you are! Great intro and thanks for sharing all this info! Do you know Machankura? https://8333.mobi/

Why not publish and Ad-post in the ~AGORA, maybe with some pictures of the rice? And if you can handle international shipping honestly I'll be happy to try!

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

Thank you so much! Yes, I’ve heard about Machankura — it’s such an amazing project helping people use Bitcoin without internet. I’m definitely looking into it more.

I’d love to post an Ad in ~AGORA soon — I’m preparing some good pictures of the rice and working on how to explain the offer clearly. As for international shipping, that’s something I’m exploring step by step. It would be exciting to try that out one day soon. I’ll keep you posted — and I really appreciate your support!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @AG 9 Jun

sound's great! Read our guides, hope they help you create a nice offer and if you have any feedback or question do not hesitate to ask

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 10 Jun

Thanks a lot! I’ll definitely check out the guides and try to create a good offer soon. I really appreciate the support—if I have any questions, I’ll reach out. Excited to get started and learn from this community!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Diego 9 Jun

Thanks for sharing this. Would Bitcoin allow you to do trade easier with neighbouring countries in Africa?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @021f3af1a6 OP 9 Jun

Yes, I believe Bitcoin has the potential to make trade with neighboring countries in Africa much easier. Traditional cross-border payments are often slow, expensive, and require access to banks or forex, which many people in rural areas don’t have.

But with Bitcoin:

You can send and receive money instantly, 24/7, without needing a bank.

Transaction fees are low, especially using the Lightning Network.

No currency conversions or inflation risks between unstable local currencies.

If more people and merchants in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, or Tanzania started accepting Bitcoin, it could really open up new trade opportunities — especially for small traders like me.

What do you think? Have you seen any cross-border Bitcoin trade happening around you?