Bitlipa
Last updated
Last updated
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Company Name: Bitlipa
Product: A blockchain-powered digital payment and settlement platform that helps African SMEs access capital and streamline transactions using stablecoins and BSV technology.
Website URL:
Industry: Digital Payments / FinTech
Geographic Reach: Africa (with a core focus on Kenya and surrounding countries)
BSV Integration Start Date: 2022
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Africa’s economy, employing the majority of the population and driving nearly all commerce. However, they struggle with:
Lack of access to working capital due to limited formal documentation or business licenses
High transactional costs (estimated $3.7 billion lost annually in Africa due to intermediaries)
Fragmented and manual payment cycles that hinder growth and operational efficiency
Traditional financial systems require extensive documentation, involve multiple intermediaries, and are costly—making them inaccessible to many African SMEs.
WHY BSV
Bitlipa chose the BSV blockchain because of its:
Ultra-low transaction fees, which are essential for SMEs operating on tight margins
Scalability, which supports high transaction throughput across diverse users
Data integrity and transparency, enabling on-chain verification of transactions and business existence
Open-source and inclusive architecture, allowing anyone to join and participate
Compared to other blockchains, BSV stood out for its enterprise-grade infrastructure and cost-efficiency, which are critical in emerging markets.
SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE
Bitlipa developed a digital payment and settlement infrastructure using BSV that allows SMEs to:
Digitize their entire payment cycle, from supplier sourcing and payments to end-merchant settlements
Use crypto stablecoins for settlement, while fiat collection/processing happens on the backend
Record transactions, GPS, and behavioral data on-chain to verify business activity—even without a formal license
Key Components:
Data logging for business verification
Stablecoin settlement infrastructure
Blockchain-based liquidity access
Back-end exchange for seamless fiat-crypto operations
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
Phase 1: MVP development and internal testing of the digital payment rail
Phase 2: Onboarding early SME adopters in Kenya and validating real-world use cases
Phase 3: Full deployment with blockchain verification and liquidity partner integrations
Bitlipa provided onboarding support for merchants, ensuring a smooth transition from cash-based to digital workflows. Integration with liquidity providers and data partners was also key.
OUTCOMES & BUSINESS IMPACT
Access to capital for previously unbanked or undocumented SMEs
Near-zero transaction costs, improving operational margins
Eliminated need for intermediaries, simplifying payments and increasing speed
Improved transparency, enabling new models of trust and creditworthiness based on blockchain data
SMEs now have an easier path to growth, funding, and digital inclusion—without relying on traditional financial gatekeepers.
CHALLENGES & MITIGATIONS
Challenge: Many SMEs lacked formal documentation to access capital Mitigation: Used blockchain-verified transaction history and GPS data to validate business legitimacy
Challenge: Limited digital literacy among some users Mitigation: Focused on intuitive UX and provided education/training through Bitlipa’s outreach programs
FUTURE VISION
Expansion: Scale across East and West Africa, onboarding more SMEs and liquidity providers
Functionality: Introduce micropayments, real-time credit scoring, and user-owned data models
Ecosystem building: Enable peer-to-peer content payments and monetization for Africa’s creative industries (e.g., music and film)
TESTIMONIAL HIGHLIGHTS
“SMEs are the backbone of our economy. With BSV, we can finally offer them the financial tools they need—without the bureaucracy.” — Apollo Eric, Founder & CEO, Bitlipa (paraphrased)
“The BSV blockchain drastically lowers transaction costs—something no other technology has achieved. This is a game-changer for African businesses.” — Apollo Eric (paraphrased)
