The payment application Strike, specializing in Bitcoins, has announced the launch of its services in seven African countries, indicating its commitment to expansion in this region. Among the countries included in the initial deployment are Gabon, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Founded by CEO Jack Mallers, Strike plans to further expand its presence in other African markets in the future.

Developed by the Chicago-based startup Zap, Strike is a mobile payment application similar to Cash App or Venmo, but it utilizes blockchain technology for transactions. This application will allow users in the mentioned African countries to buy and sell bitcoins (BTC) and the stablecoin USDT. Additionally, it will provide the ability to exchange local fiat currency for cryptocurrency and vice versa, as well as global payments through the Bitcoin Lightning network, enabling fast and inexpensive transactions both domestically and internationally.

This expansion follows Strike's announcement last year of plans to expand its operations to more than 65 countries, covering not only African but also Latin American, Asian, and Caribbean markets. In November, Strike made its services available worldwide, allowing users in over 35 countries to purchase BTC through its application, while charging a 3.9% commission for customers outside the United States.