Kenya Sees Bitcoin ATMs Emerge Despite Unissued Crypto Licenses
Kenya has seen the emergence of Bitcoin ATMs in major shopping malls across Nairobi. The installations come weeks after Kenya implemented its first comprehensive cryptocurrency law, the Virtual Assets Service Providers Act of 2025.
The new law established a licensing framework for wallet operators, exchanges, custodians, and other crypto platforms. However, regulations required to initiate VASP licensing have not been issued yet.
According to Capital News, several major malls in Nairobi installed Bankless Bitcoin machines beside traditional banking kiosks. These devices offer cash-to-crypto services to locals, marking the visible entry of crypto infrastructure into mainstream retail spaces.
AfriBit Africa co-founder Ronnie Mdawida stated that people in lower-income neighborhoods like Kibera often lack opportunities to secure their lives with normal savings. With Bitcoin, residents can hold value without documentation and banking paperwork, which Mdawida described as 'financial freedom for people living on a dollar a day.'