M-Pesa is set to roll out blockchain-powered transactions in Ethiopia following a partnership between M-Pesa Africa and the Abu Dhabi–based ADI Foundation, extending new payment infrastructure to one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money markets.
The agreement will integrate ADI Chain, a regulatory-compliant blockchain platform, into M-Pesa’s operations in eight countries, including Ethiopia. The initiative is designed to support cross-border payments, stablecoin transactions and additional digital financial services for individuals and small businesses.
Ethiopia has seen rapid expansion in mobile financial services since the liberalisation of the telecoms sector and the launch of M-Pesa by Safaricom Ethiopia. The country has prioritised digital payments as part of broader economic reforms aimed at improving financial inclusion and reducing reliance on cash.
M-Pesa Africa said the blockchain infrastructure would operate alongside existing mobile money systems. In Ethiopia, where cross-border transfers are commonly used for trade and remittances, the integration is expected to link local users to a wider regional payments network, subject to regulatory requirements set by the National Bank of Ethiopia.
The partnership also covers Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania, connecting more than 60 million M-Pesa users across Africa to the new infrastructure. M-Pesa Africa is a joint venture between Safaricom and Vodacom.