This initiative reflects Hashgraph Ventures’ broader mandate to back and support exceptional high-growth, early-stage ventures and projects building real-world solutions across blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and deep technology. Together with The Hashgraph Association, a Swiss non-profit driving global Hedera ecosystem adoption, and Exponential Science Foundation, a global organisation inventing, building, and investing in breakthrough technologies that accelerate human progress, this partnership marks a milestone in advancing Africa’s next generation of decentralised builders. 
 
With participation from United Gulf Financial Services (UGFS), total equity investment commitments now stand at $2 million, in addition to a $1 million prize pool contributed by The Hashgraph Association and Exponential Science Foundation.

Driving Institutional Capital into Africa’s Web3 Future 
 
As a regulated venture capital vehicle, Hashgraph Ventures operates under ADGM’s globally recognised financial framework, ensuring full transparency, governance, and investor protection. The fund is led by a seasoned team of blockchain investors and fund managers with successful global exits and deep experience deploying institutional capital across the digital asset landscape. 
 
“We are pleased that Hashgraph Ventures will be pledging $1 million to the Hedera Africa Hackathon as this not only reflects their commitment to support scalable, real-world adoption of DLT but also of the success that the Hedera Africa Hackathon has achieved, becoming the largest Web3 hackathon globally,” noted Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association.

He added, “We believe Africa’s developer ecosystem holds immense potential to shape the future of decentralised finance, AI-driven innovation, and digital inclusion. The Hashgraph Association is keen to build the Web3 ecosystem across Africa and globally through partnerships such as the one with Hashgraph Ventures, Exponential Science, United Gulf Financial Services and others. This is just the beginning!”
 
Dara Campbell, Senior Executive Officer of Hashgraph Ventures, added, “We’re incredibly excited to support the next wave of Web3 and AI talent emerging from Africa and other high-growth markets. Our $1 million pledge goes beyond capital and brings the full weight of our global network and strategic partnerships across the Middle East, the US, and Asia to help founders scale. This hackathon aligns perfectly with our mission to empower emerging builders through tangible investment, institutional guidance, and long-term value creation.” 
 
Empowering 13,000 Developers and 1,300 Startups Across 20+ Cities 

The Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, launched on August 1st, 2025, and ran through October 31st, 2025, engaged developers, entrepreneurs, and students across more than 20 African cities. Participants were tasked with developing Hedera-powered solutions in key verticals, including finance, healthcare, telecom, sustainability, agriculture, and manufacturing, with a strong focus on the convergence of AI, IoT, robotics, and quantum computing. 
 
By combining online and onsite participation, the hackathon registered 13,000 developers and generated 1,300 project submissions, positioning it as the largest decentralised innovation initiative in Africa’s history. 
  
Strategic Partnerships for Scalable Impact 
 
The Hashgraph Association and Exponential Science Foundation, as the main partners driving the hackathon, were also supported by a powerful network of organisations including Orange Middle East & Africa, UGFS, Sygnum Bank, Taylor Wessing, SwissCoast Saqqara, Object Computing, and DAR Blockchain, the Tunisian-based Web3 hub managing on-the-ground execution and community engagement. 
 
“We are committed to the Hedera Africa Hackathon because we believe in the strong potential within the continent for the development of emerging technologies. We are pleased to see additional commitments to supporting the region, and hackathon, from investment firms and funds such as UGFS and Hashgraph Ventures,” said Dr. Paolo Tasca, Executive Chairman of Exponential Science Foundation. 

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Up until today, deposits from MPESA to user accounts were charged Ksh35 exclusive of excise duty. The beginning of the month was therefore not a good time for Co-op Bank to do a meme on the Twitter timeline.

Sasa juu salo imeingia😉, kamilisheni sentensi ifuatayo:

Salimianga watu… pic.twitter.com/vqaDYekiFc

— Co-op Bank Kenya (@Coopbankenya) March 2, 2022

It seems many users were not fully aware of this fee per every M-PESA deposit. Most complained they had not been notified of the ledger fees, which had accumulated and deducted after a period of deposits.

You are deducting my money from my accounts without any communication calling it ledger fees for three days https://t.co/Q0thPIiLyu should have told me before.

— moses maina (@maishmose) March 2, 2022

Another user,  @mickey_anyangu noted:

“You have deducted 7k from my account in the name of ledger fees 🤬🤬🤬 na Bado naona ati Niko na deni ya 1800 nijipate nimeeka pesa kwa hii kibanda yenyu🙄”.

Needless to repeat everything, it was a warzone in the comment section. In typical fashion, the Co-op Bank admin repeated the scripted answer in each comment.
“Sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

It was not until one user went for the jugular, pointing to how the bank will hurt from a boycott. The record-breaking and swiftest of decisions made to prevent this disaster. I suspect several “emergency” Zoom call links were shared within Co-op bank WhatsApp groups.

We wish to advise that we will no longer charge the ledger fee on mpesa to account deposits. ^FN

— Co-op Bank Kenya (@Coopbankenya) March 3, 2022

Last year, a similar incident happened with Equity Bank. In a rather fraudulent scam claim, Asnael Moturi detailed how an Equity bank agent in Kisii collaborated with fraudsters to clear KES 900,000 in his sick mother’s account. He took to Twitter to complain and seek help from his fellow Kenyans brought out their rage. Within a day, the problem was heard and all issues resolved.

Who’s next? M-PESA transaction charges maybe? More Banks? Keep it here for the updates.

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Naturally, the risk associated with such volatility is much higher than that associated with less volatile assets. If you are confident about crypto investment, this is the right time to begin. For this, you can visit several platforms like this app and start your investment journey.

There are two common motivations for trading cryptocurrencies: either to store value in Bitcoin (BTC) and/or Ethereum (ETH) or to earn a profit in US dollars (USD) quickly. Even in a bull market for cryptocurrencies, increasing your portfolio’s worth in US dollars is easier than increasing your Bitcoin holdings.

If you trade actively, you can lose some or all of your bitcoin holdings. This is why many Bitcoin and cryptocurrency enthusiasts choose to merely HODL their holdings.

Guidelines for Cryptocurrency Investing

Check out the six simple steps to start investment in cryptocurrency.

1. Open a digital currency brokerage account.

Making a profile with a crypto brokerage is the first step to start cryptocurrency trading. Similar to creating an account at a stock brokerage, establishing an account with a cryptocurrency brokerage will need you to furnish personal identity information. However, you must first filter the best crypto exchange platform for the same. 

2. Putting money into the account.

A cryptocurrency brokerage requires linking your bank account once you’ve joined. The most inexpensive method of funding your account is an ACH deposit (internet bank transfer), which is often free on most sites. Many crypto exchange platforms charge certain fees for this, hence you should check this out before making the final call. 

3. Select a Cryptocurrency.

Professional investors allocate the vast majority of Bitcoin and Ethereum trading money. Trading utilizing technical indicators might be simplified because of these cryptocurrencies’ more stable price action than more volatile altcoins.

As a result, many cryptocurrency investors put some of their money into lesser-known altcoins. Cryptocurrencies with a tiny to mid-sized market value are more volatile than their larger counterparts, but they also have more potential rewards. 

4. Decide your trading strategy

Most cryptocurrency traders evaluate several elements, and there is a wide variety of trading indicators to select from. You should probably get a bitcoin trading course if you’re a beginner investor. In the stock market, you may already have a plan down pat if you’re an experienced trader. Elliott Wave Theory is a widely-used and widely-liked trading approach. 

5. Consider using crypto trading robots.

Automated trading software implements a strategy designed to maximize your returns in line with your specified criteria. The worldwide mania for virtual currencies has also swept India. The Indian government’s position on digital assets has been made clear in the most recent budget, making the possibility of a ban shortly less likely. Even a 30 per cent tax does not seem like much of a deterrent for folks earning a fortune trading cryptocurrencies. 

To what extent does this necessitate urgent investment?

Before putting money into anything, it’s important to research and grasps the fundamentals.

• The cryptocurrency industry is still in its infancy, having just been around for a decade. As a result, it’s significantly riskier and unregulated by regulators. Because of this, getting your money back in the event of fraud or hacking is extremely unlikely. Creating a cryptocurrency that appears real but is a hoax is simple.

• Plan for the long term by setting up various savings and investment vehicles like Fixed Deposits, Equity Mutual Funds, Debt Funds, required Insurances, Emergency Funds, etc. 

• Investigate the market thoroughly before making any investments based on the advice of family, friends, or coworkers. You should be aware, however, that if the investment turns out to be a bust, no one will be able to save your money. Before putting money into them, make sure you understand their possible applications.

• Trade using a reputable platform, as it is not unusual for cryptocurrency trading platforms to be hacked or used to defraud investors.

Do’s and Don’ts while investing in cryptocurrencies.

Do’s:

• Make sure you understand the technology, adoption rate, regulatory landscape, and competitiveness of any cryptocurrency you’re considering investing before investing any money into it.

• It may be prudent to diversify your holdings to limit the risk associated with the fluctuating value of any one cryptocurrency.

• Be aware of market tendencies: maintain a level of familiarity with the crypto market as a whole and the patterns and tendencies that are developing within it. 

• Use stop-loss orders, which sell your bitcoin automatically if the price falls below a particular threshold. Doing so can reduce the potential for loss and maximize safety.

Don’ts:

• The cryptocurrency market is extremely unstable and prone to frequent shifts.

• Don’t trade long-term success for short-term fluctuations in the market. Think patiently and long-term while making any investments.

• Use a trusted cryptocurrency exchange and safeguard your funds by storing them in a secure hardware wallet and activating two-factor authentication.

• Make your own educated investing selections based on your investigation.

• Don’t freak out when the market drops; fluctuations are to be expected. When the market drops, you shouldn’t panic and make rash choices. Don’t lose sight of why and how you’re investing money.

Conclusion

You should learn as much as possible about cryptocurrency investments before making purchases. Because they’re afraid of losing out on huge profits, many people invest their money without considering it. Get your financial house in order with tried-and-true methods first.

Cover Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

DISCLAIMER: This article is sponsored and does not substitute for professional advice or help. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility.

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First, you can dial *888# on your mobile phone, and you’ll be able to check your Nairobi water bill, make payments, and manage your account with ease.

Customers who would like to pay their bills through personal cheques/credit/debit cards can do so at the CBD office, along Kenyatta Avenue. You can also use your M-PESA wallet, Airtel Money, or Equitel line from Equity.

M-Pesa

1. Go to the M-PESA Menu
2. Select ‘Pay Bill’
3. Enter the Business Number: 444400
4. Enter your bill Account Number
5. Enter the amount you wish to pay
6. Key in your M-PESA PIN
7. Confirm that your entries are correct then press OK

Airtel Money

1. Select Airtel Money on your menu

1. Select ‘Make Payments’
2. Select ‘Paybill’
3. Select ‘Nairobi Water’
4. Enter the amount you want to pay in KES
5. Enter your PIN
6. Under reference, enter your Nairobi Water Account number

Equitel

1. Select ‘My Money’
2. Select ‘Send/Pay’
3. Select ‘Account Number’
4. Select ‘Paybill’
5. Select ‘Business’
6. Select ‘Bill to Pay’: Nairobi Water – 6800002
7. Enter Bill account number.
8. Enter the amount, then confirm all details.

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The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in December 2022 announced that it will reinstate charges for money transfers between bank accounts and mobile money wallets. This decision comes after commercial banks have been advocating for the return of these bank to M-PESA charges for months. 

High Court of Kenya Suspends Bank-to-M-PESA Charges

The charges were originally suspended on March 16, 2020, as a temporary measure to encourage the use of mobile money during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have just been reintroduced on the 1st of January 2023.

Mr. Wafula argues charges incurred in Mpesa Paybill services are to be paid for by Safaricom’s primary clients such as banks and not the consumers.

“The petition pending determination illustrates that the engagement between Safaricom and its M-Pesa Paybill clients is a bipartite business engagement between Safaricom as the M-Pesa paybill service provider and their M-Pesa paybill primary clients being the service recipients.” Mr. Wafula as quoted on this petition.

These clients are such as Banks, Government agencies, Kenya power, Dstv, betting firms, mobile money companies, and other institutions. The resident has asked the high court to find Safaricom in violation of financial consumer rights.

An interim order to apply a temporary suspension of the charges until the case is determined was issued by High Court judge Mugure Thande. This case will focus on the area of payment services provided by Safaricom Limited as Lipa Na M-Pesa Pay Bill Service.

“Safaricom has no authority to charge members of the public for a service offered to its contracting service recipients, including banks.”

I tried to test just before the publication of this article whether the order had been implemented. As far as my Equity account is concerned, I am still being charged transaction costs for bank-to-M-PESA transfers.

The case will be mentioned on January 23, 2023.

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Equity Bank ATM and Agent Withdrawal Charges

It is important to note that Equity Bank has standardized costs for ATM and Agent transactions. Therefore, what it costs to make a withdrawal at an agent is the same as when using an ATM.

Equitel Withdrawal Charges

Equitel is Equity Bank’s mobile phone platform that allows you to carry out your financial transactions as well as make calls, send SMSs and access the internet.

Equitel Transfer Charges

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The charges were originally suspended on March 16, 2020, as a temporary measure to encourage the use of mobile money during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are now effective since 1st January 2023 at rates lower than before. 

Here is a roundup of charges levied across different banks in Kenya as you make transfers from the bank to M-PESA. 

Equity Bank to M-PESA, Airtel Money Charges

According to Equity, these charges will be exclusive of government taxes, meaning the actual charges could be higher.

NCBA to M-PESA, Airtel Money Charges

I&M Bank to M-PESA Charges

KCB to M-PESA Transaction Charges

National Bank to M-PESA, Airtel Money Transaction Charges

Family Bank to M-PESA, Airtel Money Charges 

Stanchart Bank to Mobile Money Charges

Diamond Trust Bank to M-Pesa Charges

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Safaricom reduces Paybill prices by more than half

In the new changes, Bank to M-PESA charges have been reduced by an average of 61%. Additionally, M-PESA to Bank charges have been reduced by an average of 47% and applies to customers making M-PESA to bank transactions. Transactions below KES 100 remain zero-rated.

The reduced M-PESA to Bank tariff will also apply to all M-PESA PayBill payments that customers use for utilities such as electricity, hospital bills, schools, government payments, etc.

The revised tariffs will be effective starting 1st January 2023.

“In our role to continue supporting the economy and stimulating growth, we have taken the initiative to reduce significantly our PayBill and business-to-customer tariffs. This move reaffirms our commitment to support all our customers and enable them cost-effectively get along with their lives, especially at this time when most Kenyans are experiencing hard economic times,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa.

They have structured the revised tariffs to ensure alignment with the Central Bank of Kenya’s pricing principles on customer centricity; transparency and disclosure; fairness and equity; choice and competition, as well as affordability.

New tariff charges table

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CX Transformation summit on customer experience and latest tech adoptions in Kenya

At the CX Transformation summit, experts from the region will get to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and future digital expectations in order to help companies lead their industries with a customer-centric culture.

Phoenix Business Intelligence organized CX Transformation Summit. Phoenix is focused on supercharging businesses by creating value and providing quality business opportunities to its clients. Gadgets Africa and WeeTracker are among the media partners for this year’s edition.

This year’s theme is on customer experience and the rise of the experience economy. The idea of selling experiences rather than products has ascended to a top priority for business leaders. The conference consists of keynote presentations, case studies, panel discussions and roundtable sessions.

Speakers

Shedding light on this topic includes some of the best speakers from the region. Some of them include:

• James Muiruri – Assistant Vice President for Life Care Kenya
• Seema Dhanani De Souza – Group Customer Experience Director for Equity Bank Limited
• Lynet Owuor-Okoth – Head of Customer Experience Department for National Bank of Kenya
• Rita Njeri – Director of Customer Success for Pawa Pay
• Ven Rasugu – Regional Head of Customer experience & Account Management for Jambo Pay
• Gitanjali Parida – Director – Transformation, Customer Experience and Asset Profitability for Telkom Kenya
• Kennedy Kaberia Kibuthania – Head of Customer Experience (E-comm & On Demand Services) for Jumia Kenya
• Sheila Gatonga – Head of Ecommerce for Naivas Limited
• Collins Lumumba – Head of Customer Experience at Metropolitan National Secco
• Pauline Macharia – Director Customer Experience for SBM Bank (K) Limited
• David Caleb Director – Customer Experience (CX) Applications Cloud Business for East West Africa Oracle
• Abigail Kalua – Director Customer Experience for D.light
• Wavi Mungala, Head of Corporate Communication & Customer Experience for The Higher Education Loans

For more information about visit the CX Transformation Summit website.

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This is so positive for M-Shwari as the deposit figures have now surpassed savings in the country’s top banks, having risen by 78.5% in just a year. This is from last year’s KES 320 billion to this year’s KES 571 billion.

This growth then means that Kenyans have deposited KES 687.95 million daily on average. This is about 2.3 times the amount of daily savings that was reported in the previous year.

“An increasing number of Kenyans are making use of this service, as indicated by the fact that deposits have more than doubled over the last four years,” says Safaricom in the latest sustainability report.

As reported by Business Daily, the M-Shwari deposits hit over the Sh569.27 billion and Sh431.44 billion savings in KCB Bank Kenya and Equity Bank Kenya reported at the end of March. This is also above the KES 330.09 billion savings made in 21 small banks by the end of December.

The huge increase is attributed to a step up in savings by Kenyans across the country as they cut on borrowing via M-Shwari by 27% to KES 94.5 billion. This means that they have saved up to six times more than they have tapped loans.

By the end of Q1 2021, M-Shwari had reported 3.977 million active customers. Unfortunately, this was a drop from the 4.66 million in a similar period last year.

This also coincided with the telco’s decision to raise the minimum loan on the service from KES 500 to KES 2,000 in August last year.  As explained by NCBA was a move aimed at reducing defaults largely by borrowers taking smaller amounts.

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DSTV Prices in Kenya (Updated)

• Premium tariff plan KES 8,400 up by KES 500
• Compact Plus tariff KES 5,100 up by KES 300

How to Pay DSTV via M-Pesa

1. Get to M-Pesa and Choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
2. Enter the DSTV Mpesa Pay bill number, 444900.
3. Enter your DSTV Smart Card number (the Smart Card number is on the card in the decoder)
4. Then, enter the amount to pay.
5. M-PESA asks you for your M-Pesa PIN. Enter your PIN.
6. Double-check and confirm that you have entered the right information and hit OK to send and complete the M-PESA transaction.
7. You will receive a transaction confirmation SMS from M-Pesa when you are done.

Using Mobile Banking Apps

When paying via KCB App:

1. Select “Transact Icon > Pay Bill > Other Billers”
2. Select “DSTV”
3. Enter Customer number in Account No.
4. Enter Amount to pay and submit

Barclays Kenya app:

1. Tap ‘Login’
2. Go to ‘Transfers’
3. Select ‘Pay Bill’
4. If you have already saved the biller, you can choose ‘Existing Payee’ and simply enter the amount to pay and account to debit. If not, choose ‘New Payee’.
5. Choose the biller type and enter in your account/reference number
6. Choose which account you would like to pay from.
7. Enter in the amount to pay and submit
8. You will be asked to confirm the amount. You may need to enter in the one-time passcode (OTP) sent to your phone
9. The transaction should reflect on your balance under ‘Accounts’.

How to pay using the Equity Bank’s Eazzy App:

1. Press the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen
2. Select Eazzy Pay from the pop-up menu displayed
3. Select Paybill and enter the Paybill number 6800009 or search contact by typing DSTV or on the search bar
4. Enter your DSTV bill number
5. Enter Amount
6. Click on the Pay option
7. You will receive a confirmation SMS, upon completion of the transaction

These steps should help you pay your DSTV Bill fast and easy. If you have any issues visit the DSTV page.

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How to Pay DStv via M-Pesa

1. Get to M-Pesa and Choose Lipa na M-PESA, then Pay Bill.
2. Enter the DStv Mpesa Pay bill number, 444900.
3. Enter your DStv Smart Card number (the Smart Card number is on the card in the decoder)
4. Then, enter the amount to pay.
5. M-PESA asks you for your M-Pesa PIN. Enter your PIN.
6. Double-check and confirm that you have entered the right information and hit OK to send and complete the M-PESA transaction.
7. You will receive a transaction confirmation SMS from M-Pesa when you are done.

Using Mobile Banking Apps

When paying via KCB App:

1. Select “Transact Icon > Pay Bill > Other Billers”
2. Select “DSTV”
3. Enter Customer number in Account No.
4. Enter Amount to pay and submit

Barclays Kenya app:

1. Tap ‘Login’
2. Go to ‘Transfers’
3. Select ‘Pay Bill’
4. If you have already saved the biller, you can choose ‘Existing Payee’ and simply enter the amount to pay and account to debit. If not, choose ‘New Payee’.
5. Choose the biller type and enter in your account/reference number
6. Choose which account you would like to pay from.
7. Enter in the amount to pay and submit
8. You will be asked to confirm the amount. You may need to enter in the one-time passcode (OTP) sent to your phone
9. The transaction should reflect on your balance under ‘Accounts’.

How to pay using the Equity Bank’s Eazzy App:

1. Press the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen
2. Select Eazzy Pay from the pop-up menu displayed
3. Select Paybill and enter the Paybill number 6800009 or search contact by typing DStv or on the search bar
4. Enter your DStv bill number
5. Enter Amount
6. Click on the Pay option
7. You will receive a confirmation SMS, upon completion of the transaction

These steps should help you pay your DSTV Bill fast and easy. If you have any issues visit the DSTV page for more information.

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