💡 Inspiration
In West Africa, the majority of financial transactions go through the Mobile Money (Wave, Orange Money, Mixx).
However, fees can be high, savings are limited, and cross-border transfers remain complicated.
At the same time, Bitcoin and the network Lightning offer a quick, inexpensive and open alternative, but access is still difficult for the average user.
We wanted to create one bridge between Bitcoin and Mobile Money, in order to make payments, savings and transfers more accessible, simpler and more secure.
⚙️ What it does
Paysats is a mobile application that combines Mobile Money and Bitcoin.
It allows the user to:
Deposit money from Mobile Money → instant conversion to sats (BTC).
Send and receive Bitcoin payments via the Lightning network (fast, almost free).
Withdraw your bitcoins to Mobile Money in FCFA.
Save thanks to Chests (Vaults), which allow you to lock a sum in sats for a chosen duration.
Enjoy one hybrid authentication : seed phrase Bitcoin + OTP recovery by phone number.
🛠️ How we build it
Mobile frontend developed with Flutter for a simple and smooth experience.
Backend in Node.js for transaction management, users and Mobile Money integration.
Network integration Lightning Bitcoin for instant payments.
Use of partner APIs (Mobile Money, Bitcoin liquidity providers) to manage deposits and withdrawals.
Secure database with encryption of sensitive data.
🚧 Challenges we ran into
Find a balance between bitcoin security (seed phrase) and there simplicity Mobile Money (OTP).
Manage it real-time conversion FCFA ↔ Bitcoin despite rate volatility.
Integrate Mobile Money services with a seamless experience.
Ensure clear UX for users sometimes unfamiliar with Bitcoin.
🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of
Have built one mobile Money hybrid wallet ↔ Bitcoin adapted to the African context.
Simplifying the Bitcoin experience for an uninitiated audience.
Imagine a d’ systemsavings in coffers which meets a real local need.
Contribute to the’financial inclusion in West Africa.
📚 What we learned
How to combine global technology like Bitcoin with local uses like Mobile Money.
The importance of thinking l’UX first, because the majority of users are discovering Bitcoin for the first time.
The need to find compromises between security, simplicity and accessibility.
Than the combination Bitcoin + Mobile Money opens up many opportunities for payments and savings.
🚀 What's next for PaySats
- Develop one beta version and test it with users in Senegal.
- Add more Mobile Money deposit and withdrawal options.
- Strengthen savings features (interest, collaborative safes, Bitcoin tontines).
- Extend the solution to other West African countries.
- Explore additional integrations like Nostr for messaging or NWC authentication.
Built With
coingeko-api firebase flutter mobile-money-api node.js postgresql