Kenya’s Kotani Pay Secures Funding From Tether To Expand Blockchain Payments

Kotani Pay, a Kenyan startup bridging Web3 and local payments in Africa, has secured strategic funding from Tether, one of the world’s largest digital asset companies.

Founded in 2020 by Felix Macharia and Karanja Gakio, Kotani Pay provides on-ramp and off-ramp infrastructure that connects blockchain protocols to local payment channels. It enables users, businesses, and enterprises to send, receive, and manage funds across borders.

The investment, its latest since announcing a USD 2 M pre-seed in 2023, aligns with Tether’s mission to expand blockchain use cases such as cross-border payments and digital asset management, empowering underserved communities to access global liquidity.

Kotani Pay’s infrastructure aims to tackle persistent barriers in emerging markets—including high transaction costs, long settlement times, and restricted access to global networks—by offering faster, cheaper, and more inclusive payment rails.

According to CEO Felix Macharia, joining the Tether ecosystem strengthens Kotani Pay’s goal of connecting millions of Africans to the global digital economy through practical blockchain-powered financial tools.