Send Money via Celo: Mobile-First Blockchain for African Remittances

Celo is purpose-built for mobile payments and financial inclusion, with phone-number-based addressing and MiniPay wallet integration across Africa.

Celo settles in 5 seconds with $0.001 fees and is the only major blockchain with native mobile wallet integration (MiniPay) across African countries.

Network specifications

How Celo works for international transfers

A Celo remittance works in three steps: (1) the sender buys USDC on a supported on-ramp exchange using their local currency; (2) the USDC travels across the Celo network, settling ~5 seconds with a network fee of $0.001000 regardless of amount; (3) the recipient sells USDC on a local off-ramp exchange for their local currency and withdraws to their bank account.

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Frequently asked questions

What makes Celo different from other blockchains?

Celo was designed from the ground up for mobile payments and financial inclusion. It supports phone-number-based addressing (send crypto to a phone number), ultra-low fees ($0.001), and has a dedicated mobile wallet ecosystem. Opera MiniPay, built on Celo, has millions of users across Africa.

Is Celo good for African remittance corridors?

Celo is particularly well-suited for African corridors. Its MiniPay integration is popular in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Coinbase supports Celo USDC, making it easy to send from the US, UK, or EU to African recipients who can receive directly on their mobile phones.

Which exchanges support Celo?

Coinbase supports Celo USDC on the on-ramp side. Off-ramp support is still growing. For recipients who prefer exchange-based off-ramps, Stellar or Solana may have broader support. However, Celo's MiniPay wallet can be used as an alternative to exchange-based off-ramps in supported countries.

How does Celo compare to Stellar for remittances?

Both are very cheap ($0.001 vs $0.000001). Stellar has broader exchange support and longer track record for cross-border payments. Celo has stronger mobile integration, especially in Africa via MiniPay. For exchange-to-exchange remittances, Stellar is usually better. For mobile-to-mobile, Celo can be more convenient.

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