Blog & Reports

News, platform updates, annual reports, and our journey building Bitcoin payments in Tanzania.

2026
February 2026
Merchant Program Launch
ChapSmart launched a Merchant Program enabling Tanzanian businesses to accept Bitcoin payments. Zero-fee setup, instant BTC-to-TZS settlement, and a complete business dashboard for tracking.
February 2026
Anonymous Account System
Privacy-first authentication using 16-digit anonymous account numbers. No email, phone, or name required. Aligns with Bitcoin's core principles of financial sovereignty and privacy.
February 2026
Fedi Community Integration
Private end-to-end encrypted community on Fedi. Combines Bitcoin wallet with secure messaging. 32+ active members engaging in private discussions and Lightning transactions.
February 2026
Transaction History & Loyalty Tiers
Comprehensive history system with filtering. New Loyalty program (Bronze, Silver, Gold) rewards users with reduced fees, priority support, and better exchange rates.
January 2026 · Block 932110
On-Chain BTC Payments Now Live
ChapSmart now supports direct on-chain Bitcoin payments alongside Lightning. Greater flexibility for larger transactions while maintaining full non-custodial control.
2025
Late 2025
Full Sovereignty — Phoenixd Migration
Completed migration from Alby to a self-hosted phoenixd node. All Lightning payments are now 100% non-custodial — no third-party custodians, no middlemen.
December 23, 2025
2025 Annual Report Released
547 transactions, 107 unique users, 16.2M sats paid, and over 44M TZS processed. Real impact and transparent growth.
October 2025
Airtime Purchase Service Launched
Bitcoin-powered airtime top-ups for Tanzanian mobile networks. Buy airtime instantly with Lightning — expanding ChapSmart beyond remittances.
2025
WebLN Support Added
Users with compatible wallets (Alby, Zeus, etc.) can now pay Lightning invoices with a single click — faster and more seamless than ever.
Ongoing 2025
Website UI & Experience Improvements
Continuous enhancements: better mobile responsiveness, faster loading, clearer flows, and modern design. More intuitive and accessible for all users.
Platform
Latest Improvements
Recent changes and new features
Merchant Program
Tanzanian businesses can accept Bitcoin payments. Zero-fee setup, instant BTC-to-TZS settlement, POS integration, and a full business dashboard. Three tiers available.
Anonymous Accounts
Privacy-first 16-digit account numbers. No personal data required — no email, phone, or name. Secure Firebase authentication with complete anonymity.
Fedi Integration
Private encrypted community on Fedi with 32+ active members. Bitcoin wallet + secure messaging for private chats and Lightning transactions.
Loyalty Tiers
Bronze, Silver, Gold tiers based on transaction volume. Reduced fees, priority support, free airtime, and better exchange rates for active users.
On-Chain Bitcoin
Direct on-chain BTC payments alongside Lightning. Greater flexibility for larger transactions. Full non-custodial control.
Self-Hosted Node
Migrated from Alby to phoenixd. No custodians — all Lightning payments are direct, private, and peer-to-peer.
WebLN Integration
One-click Lightning payments with compatible wallets like Alby and Zeus across all payment flows.
Airtime Top-Ups
Buy airtime for any Tanzanian mobile number using Bitcoin Lightning. Fast, cheap, and expanding ChapSmart's everyday utility.
Security & Reliability
Backend monitoring, improved error handling, and robust Lightning routing ensure reliable, secure payments every time.

ChapSmart 2025 Annual Report

Bitcoin-Powered Payments in Tanzania ⚡🇹🇿

547
Transactions
107
Unique Users
16.2M
Sats Paid
44.3M
TZS Processed
Download Full Report
Our Journey
2025 in Review
From education to financial infrastructure
The Pivot
In 2025, ChapSmart pivoted from educational materials to practical Bitcoin financial services. On April 27, we launched BitRemit — our automated remittance system enabling instant global-to-Tanzania transfers via Lightning.
Growth & Features
Continuously improved the UI for better usability. Added airtime top-ups in October. Integrated WebLN for one-click payments. Each update brought more Tanzanians into the Bitcoin economy.
Full Sovereignty
In late 2025, we achieved full sovereignty by migrating from Alby to a self-hosted phoenixd node. No custodians, direct control — true financial independence.
Gratitude
Special Thanks
The people who made this possible
Our Supporters
Deeply grateful to @BitcoinSafariTZ, @getraud (JET.BITCRAZY), @Adamsimecka, and Alby for their ideas, guidance, and support. They played a key role in ChapSmart's growth.
Looking Ahead
2026 & Beyond
Scaling Bitcoin payments across Tanzania
Ready to Scale
With 547 transactions and 107 users in 2025, we're ready for the next level. Expect new features, lower fees, merchant adoption, and wider reach — bringing Bitcoin payments to more Tanzanians every day.

Thank you to every user and supporter. You made financial freedom real in Tanzania. 💛
Built with sovereignty — phoenixd node, no custodians · December 2025