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Onboarding in Kenya 🇰🇪

Complete guide to getting started with reply.cash in Kenya. Learn how to set up your wallet, buy USDC with M-Pesa, send money to mobile money accounts and banks, and use all features.

Overview​

reply.cash enables you to:

  • ✅ Buy USDC with M-Pesa (mobile money to crypto)
  • ✅ Send money to M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and all Kenyan banks
  • ✅ Receive payments directly to your mobile money or bank account
  • ✅ Use crypto like cash for local payments

Why use reply.cash in Kenya?

  • Lower fees (typically under 2% vs 3-8% for traditional remittances)
  • Instant settlement (1-5 minutes for mobile money)
  • No registration needed for recipients
  • Privacy benefits without mobile money registration tracking
  • Universal balance works across all countries

Step 1: Set Up Your Solana Wallet​

Before you can use reply.cash, you need a Solana wallet with USDC balance.

Choose a Wallet​

Popular Solana wallets:

  • Phantom - Most popular, user-friendly
  • Solflare - Feature-rich, good for advanced users
  • Backpack - Modern interface, great for beginners
  • Jupiter - Built-in swap features

→ Complete Wallet Setup Guide - Detailed instructions for all wallets

Quick Setup (Phantom Example)​

  1. Download Phantom

    • Visit phantom.app
    • Install the browser extension or mobile app

  2. Create Wallet

    • Click "Create New Wallet"
    • Save your recovery phrase securely (12 or 24 words)
    • Set a password

  3. Verify Setup

    • Your wallet address will be displayed
    • Copy it for later use

→ Phantom Wallet Guide - Complete Phantom setup guide

Step 2: Buy USDC with M-Pesa​

Once you have a wallet, buy USDC using your M-Pesa account.

Quick Steps​

  1. Connect Wallet to reply.cash

    • Visit app.reply.cash
    • Click "Connect Wallet"
    • Select your wallet (Phantom, Solflare, etc.)
    • Approve the connection

  2. Navigate to Onramp

    • Click "Top Up" in the navigation
    • Select "Buy with M-Pesa"

  3. Enter Details

    • Amount: Enter amount in KES (e.g., 1,000)
    • Phone Number: Enter your M-Pesa registered number (e.g., +254712345678)
    • Destination: Choose your connected wallet or enter external wallet address

  4. Authorize with STK Push

    • Click "Confirm"
    • You'll receive an STK Push notification on your phone
    • Enter your M-Pesa PIN to authorize
    • Wait 1-5 minutes for USDC to arrive

→ Complete M-Pesa Onramp Guide - Detailed step-by-step instructions

Transaction Limits​

  • Minimum: KES 100
  • Maximum: KES 150,000 per transaction
  • Daily: KES 70,000 - 500,000 (varies by M-Pesa tier)

Step 3: Send Money to Mobile Money & Banks​

Now that you have USDC, you can send money to anyone in Kenya.

Supported Payment Methods​

📱 M-Pesa (Safaricom)​

  • Most popular mobile money service
  • Instant settlement (1-5 minutes)
  • Transaction limits: KES 20 - KES 250,000

📱 Airtel Money​

  • Alternative mobile money provider
  • Instant settlement (1-5 minutes)
  • Transaction limits: KES 20 - KES 250,000

🏦 All Banks​

  • Direct bank transfers to any Kenyan bank
  • Settlement: 1-3 business days
  • Transaction limits: KES 20 - KES 250,000

How to Send​

  1. Open reply.cash

    • Ensure your wallet is connected
    • You should see your USDC balance

  2. Initiate Payment

    • Click "Send" on the home screen
    • Select "Local Payment Rails" or "Mobile Money"
    • Choose 🇰🇪 Kenya

  3. Select Payment Method

    • Choose M-Pesa, Airtel Money, or Bank Transfer
    • Enter recipient's phone number (for mobile money) or account details (for bank)

  4. Enter Amount

    • Enter amount in KES
    • Review exchange rate and conversion
    • Check transaction fee

  5. Confirm and Send

    • Review all details
    • Click "Confirm" or "Send"
    • Approve transaction in your wallet
    • Wait for confirmation (1-5 minutes for mobile money)

→ Complete Sending Guide for Kenya - Detailed instructions

Step 4: Understanding Mobile Money Networks​

M-Pesa (Safaricom)​

About:

  • Launched in 2007 by Safaricom
  • Most popular mobile money service in Kenya
  • Over 30 million active users

Features:

  • STK Push for secure payments
  • Agent network for cash deposits/withdrawals
  • Bank integration
  • Bill payments and merchant payments

Transaction Limits:

  • Minimum: KES 20
  • Maximum: KES 250,000 per transaction
  • Daily: Varies by account tier (KES 70,000 - 500,000)

→ M-Pesa Deep Dive Guide - Complete M-Pesa guide

Airtel Money​

About:

  • Airtel's mobile money service
  • Second-largest network in Kenya
  • Growing user base

Features:

  • Similar to M-Pesa functionality
  • Agent network
  • Bank integration
  • Merchant payments

Transaction Limits:

  • Minimum: KES 20
  • Maximum: KES 250,000 per transaction
  • Daily: Varies by account tier

→ Airtel Money Kenya Deep Dive - Complete Airtel Money guide

Step 5: Receiving Payments​

How Recipients Receive Money​

When someone sends you money via reply.cash:

  1. Payment Notification

    • You receive SMS notification
    • Funds appear in your mobile money or bank account

  2. No Action Required

    • Funds are automatically deposited
    • Available immediately for use

  3. Use Funds

    • Withdraw at agents (mobile money)
    • Transfer to bank
    • Use for payments
    • Send to others

→ Receiving Money Guide - Complete receiving guide

What Recipients Need​

  • Mobile Money: Active M-Pesa or Airtel Money account registered with phone number
  • Bank Transfer: Valid Kenyan bank account
  • No reply.cash account needed - Recipients don't need to register

Mobile Money Network Detection​

When buying USDC or sending money, reply.cash automatically detects your mobile money network based on your phone number:

  • M-Pesa: Safaricom numbers (e.g., +254712345678)
  • Airtel Money: Airtel numbers (e.g., +254712345678)

The system identifies the network automatically, so you don't need to manually select it.

Common Use Cases​

1. Buying USDC for Personal Use​

  • Top up your wallet with M-Pesa
  • Use USDC to send money to others
  • Build up balance for future payments

2. Sending Money to Family/Friends​

  • Send to M-Pesa or Airtel Money accounts
  • Send to bank accounts
  • Instant settlement for mobile money

3. Business Payments​

  • Pay suppliers via mobile money or bank
  • Receive payments from customers
  • Lower fees than traditional methods

4. Remittances​

  • Send money from abroad to Kenya
  • Lower fees than traditional remittance services
  • Instant settlement

Security Best Practices​

Protect Your Wallet​

  • ✅ Never share your recovery phrase - Keep it secure and offline
  • ✅ Use strong passwords - For wallet and reply.cash account
  • ✅ Verify wallet addresses - Always double-check before sending
  • ✅ Use official apps only - Download from official sources
  • ✅ Enable 2FA - If available on your wallet

Protect Your M-Pesa Account​

  • ✅ Never share your M-Pesa PIN - reply.cash will never ask for it
  • ✅ Verify merchant name - Should show "reply.cash"
  • ✅ Check amounts - Verify before confirming
  • ✅ Keep phone secure - Use screen lock and biometrics

Troubleshooting​

Wallet Issues​

Problem: Can't connect wallet

  • ✅ Ensure wallet extension/app is installed
  • ✅ Check browser permissions
  • ✅ Try refreshing the page
  • ✅ Try a different browser

Problem: USDC not showing

  • ✅ Check correct wallet is connected
  • ✅ Verify transaction on Solana Explorer
  • ✅ Refresh wallet balance
  • ✅ Check wallet is synced

M-Pesa Issues​

Problem: STK Push not received

  • ✅ Check phone has network connection
  • ✅ Verify phone number is correct
  • ✅ Wait 1-2 minutes
  • ✅ Try again

Problem: Payment failed

  • ✅ Check M-Pesa balance (amount + fees)
  • ✅ Verify PIN is correct
  • ✅ Check transaction limits
  • ✅ Ensure account is active

→ Troubleshooting Guide - Complete troubleshooting guide

Fees & Limits​

Onramp Fees (Buying USDC)​

  • M-Pesa fees: Standard M-Pesa transaction fees
  • Exchange rate: Current market rate (KES to USDC)
  • reply.cash fees: No additional platform fees during initial growth phase

Sending Fees​

  • Mobile Money: No fees for recipients
  • Bank Transfers: No fees for recipients
  • Gas fees: Small SOL fee (< $0.01) for blockchain transaction

Transaction Limits​

Buying USDC:

  • Minimum: KES 100
  • Maximum: KES 150,000 per transaction
  • Daily: KES 70,000 - 500,000 (varies by M-Pesa tier)

Sending Money:

  • Minimum: KES 20
  • Maximum: KES 250,000 per transaction
  • Daily: Varies by recipient's account tier

Next Steps​

Now that you're set up, explore more features:

Need Help?​

Complete onboarding guide for Kenya. Set up your wallet, buy USDC with M-Pesa, and start sending money instantly.