Felix Macharia

Felix Macharia is a medical doctor turned crypto entrepreneur and the founder of Kotani Pay, a platform revolutionizing financial access across Africa. By enabling feature phone users to transact in cryptocurrency via USSD, Felix is bringing blockchain technology to underserved communities, including refugees, farmers, and small businesses, helping them participate in the digital economy without needing smartphones or traditional banking access. Felix’s journey began in 2016 at the University of Nairobi School of Medicine, where living with software developers exposed him to the transformative potential of Web3 technologies. Inspired by the permissionless nature of blockchain, he recognized an opportunity to bridge global financial systems with local realities. Kotani Pay now addresses Africa’s critical dollar shortage, facilitating cross-border payments, reducing transaction costs, and empowering users to hold and use crypto assets to fund their dreams. Licensed in South Africa and pursuing compliance in Kenya, Felix continues to drive innovation in Web3, demonstrating how African entrepreneurs can leverage technology to create opportunities beyond conventional systems. His message to the next generation is clear: embrace emerging technologies, take bold steps, and build solutions that enable financial inclusion and prosperity across the continent.