Zug, Switzerland, May 12th, 2026 - Cantor8 has announced a set of exclusive memoranda of understanding with Yiksi Limited that lay out plans to migrate prominent African mobile money systems, including M-PESA and EVC Plus, onto blockchain rails using the Canton Network.
The company says the arrangement will leverage Yiksi, the crypto exchange arm tied to Taran App, a fintech operator on the continent, to integrate two of Africas most-used mobile money platforms directly onto the Canton Network. Cantor8 frames the work as a pilot intended to test and demonstrate how onchain digital money infrastructure can scale across additional nations and mobile money ecosystems.
Why mobile money matters
Across several East African markets, limited traditional banking infrastructure has encouraged widespread adoption of mobile-first financial services. In Somalia and Kenya, in particular, these platforms underpin routine commerce and remittances where physical bank branches are scarce and strict documentation requirements limit access.
The announcement cites three structural drivers that have supported mobile money uptake in the region: sparse or non-existent access to reliable banking infrastructure; broad mobile phone access and user competence; and the practical challenges posed by local currency instability. Together, these conditions have produced an environment where mobile money systems act as a de facto financial backbone.
Somalia provides a clear case. Since the early 1990s the market has evolved into a mobile-first economy sustained by services such as EVC Plus. The U.S. State Departments 2025 Investment Climate Statement, cited in the project materials, reports formal banking penetration in Somalia at just 15% because of limited branches and stringent ID rules. In response, mobile money has become central to daily economic life.
Kenyas landscape differs by degree, not by kind. M-PESA dominates payments and digital financial services, but notable rural access barriers remain. The announcement points to the high penetration of mobile connectivity as a foundation on which onchain infrastructure could expand financial inclusion and link fragmented markets.
Scale and usage metrics described in the announcement
- Somalia: mobile penetration nearing 60% with 11.5 million connections growing at an annual rate of 7%.
- Kenya: SIM subscriptions reported at 78.4 million, which equates to a 149.5% penetration rate and roughly 1.5 SIMs per person.
- EVC Plus: mobile money usage is extremely widespread, with over 87% of the Somali population reportedly using mobile money services; Hormuud Telecom is said to serve nearly 5 million users.
- M-PESA and Kenyan digital platforms: as of 2025, approximately 85% of Kenyan adults had access to financial services through digital channels, and M-PESA is estimated to account for well over 90% of mobile money transaction value in Kenya.
What Canton Network integration is intended to deliver
Cantor8 positions its role as an infrastructure provider that will enable token issuance and secure onchain money flows using components such as its C8 Registry token issuance engine. The announcement highlights three operational advantages intended from moving mobile money onto Cantons rails: instant settlement, privacy-suitable compliance features, and cross-network interoperability.
Instant settlement is described as a key benefit. By using blockchain rails capable of atomic settlement, transfers and other actions would be finalized in a single transaction, removing in-transit settlement risk and reducing operating burdens on mobile money providers. The announcement frames this as eliminating settlement gaps and reducing reliance on intermediary settlement mechanisms.
Privacy and compliance are presented as complementary features of the Canton Network. Unlike public blockchains that expose transaction histories, Canton is characterized as providing privacy controls that shield counterparties, balances, and timing. At the same time, the network supports tamper-proof audit trails accessible only to authorized regulators and auditors, which Cantor8 says is necessary for regulated industries such as banking.
Interoperability is described through Cantons "network-of-networks" design. Individual institutions can retain separate ledgers while a Global Synchronizer function enables interaction across those ledgers. Cantor8 suggests this architecture would allow mobile money users to move funds across borders and merchants without lengthy or risky conversion processes.
Pilot design and strategic partnerships
The initiative is structured around exclusive MOUs with Yiksi Limited and operational cooperation with Taran App and its exchange. Cantor8 intends to use Taran Apps infrastructure to connect M-PESA and EVC Plus to Canton, enabling direct digital money-to-crypto conversions onchain. The pilot is explicitly framed as a testbed for broader adoption across other countries and mobile money systems.
Cantor8 positions the pilot as part of a wider objective to modernize mobile connectivity and bridge the banking gap in markets where formal financial services remain weak. The company says the work could allow users to leverage the U.S. Dollars stability and move funds seamlessly across borders, contributing to a more interconnected payments ecosystem in Africa.
Implications for markets and infrastructure
If the pilot achieves its stated technical goals, it could materially change settlement processes and cross-border flows between mobile money platforms and crypto-based services. The announcement underscores potential operational efficiencies for mobile money operators and the prospect of tighter privacy-compliant oversight for regulators.
From an infrastructure perspective, Cantor8 emphasizes token issuance, self-custody wallet solutions, private transfer capabilities, and bespoke development services as elements of its product suite that will underpin the integration work. The company describes itself as the leading infrastructure provider for the Canton Network ecosystem, staffed by Oxbridge alumni, exited founders, and DAML developers, and offering a full stack of services to support compliant onchain money flows.
Limitations and pilot status
The planned integration is expressly a pilot. The announcement characterizes it as an initial demonstration meant to inform subsequent rollouts across additional African countries and mobile money ecosystems. The breadth and pace of any expansion will depend on the outcomes of this pilot phase and the operational integration with existing mobile money systems.
About Cantor8
Cantor8 markets itself as a provider of infrastructure for the Canton Network, with offerings that include compliant token issuance, private transfers, self-custody wallets, and development services. The firm says it is founded and operated by a team with prior exits and technical expertise in DAML-based development.
Contact for Cantor8 in the announcement is listed as Reni Achkar, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, with the email [email protected] and the phone number +12202639520.
Conclusion
Cantor8s announced MOUs with Yiksi Limited and planned collaboration with Taran App set out a pilot to bring M-PESA and EVC Plus onto the Canton Network. The project aims to demonstrate how blockchain rails can deliver instant settlement, privacy-aware compliance, and cross-network interoperability for mobile-first economies where traditional banking access is limited. The work will proceed as a pilot with the stated intention of informing wider rollouts across additional mobile money ecosystems in Africa.