Can we have Bitcoin cash without the internet?

Cryptocurrency is assumed to be available to everyone who can have access to two important things which are the internet and a smartphone. Without the internet, even if you have a smartphone you cannot access the use of Cryptocurrency nor will you be able to own some. It's, therefore, necessary that a person who wants to access the use of Cryptocurrency have at least a smartphone that could connect to the Internet.

In today's world, it is estimated that over 63% of the world’s population uses the Internet every day, which is equivalent to a little more than 5 billion people on earth that have access to the internet regularly. However, there's also a high level of disparities in the penetration of the Internet depending on the geographical areas in the world.

These disparities in the penetration of the internet across the world have a huge effect on the adoption of Cryptocurrency. Countries such as the united Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Liechtenstein have 99.5% to 100% internet penetration between them. Among the G2 countries, Canada has the highest internet penetration with 99.97% followed by the UK at 94.82%, then, America at 90.90%.

This informed the reason why the adoption of cryptocurrency and its uses is higher in those countries. But the case is quite different in African countries with a more complicated situation in terms of internet penetration. The highest internet penetration rate for African countries stands at 66% in January 2022 with South Africa taking the lead. It's much lower in the sub-Saharan African countries. The consequence of this lag in internet penetration affects the use of Cryptocurrency in these regions and undoubtedly hinders the adoption of Cryptocurrency.

Interestingly, it seems some people understand the effects of this internet disparity across the world and have now started with the creation of a project that allows people to access Bitcoin with a simple normal phone without an internet connection. The project is only available for some selected African countries at the moment and looks promising except for the fact that it is routed through the Bitcoin lightning network.

The Machankura project made it possible to send and receive Bitcoin on an ordinary phone without an internet connection through GSM USSD codes. I believe this is a breakthrough for adoption in Africa. The idea of the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is not something that we do not know. It's the same functionality as the USSD codes we used for recharging our mobile credit and data. The same technology is used in the banking system that allows individuals to check balances and send money to others.

Users can send some Satoshi to another user via a GSM network using the area USSD codes.

Presently, the Machankura project is available in the following African countries:

• Ghana

• Kenya

• Malawi

• Namibia

• Nigeria

• South Africa

• Uganda

People in the above countries can use the Machankura Bitcoin service without an internet connection. This service addresses a fundamental need in the adoption of Bitcoin if successfully implemented.

Can we have Bitcoin cash without an internet connection also?

Bitcoin cash is arguably the best fit to work smoothly with such service as the Machankura. The lightning network has been a failure and is much more very centralized. If BTC could pass through this innovation via the lightning network I believe Bitcoin cash BCH can work better with added advantages.

Bitcoin BTC has a higher network fee and the lightning network has not been able to completely deal with that. More so, users' security is not guaranteed with the lightning network. Bitcoin cash BCH provides both lower transaction fees and more security for users.

The lightning network is an external network to the Bitcoin chain and will always have a third-party influence. Bitcoin cash BCH is onchain which makes it a decentralized chain without any third-party influence. A service like the Machankura can be very successful if implemented on the Bitcoin cash chain.

Africa is a destination for cryptocurrency adoption. Any service that will make it simpler for the people in this part of the world to access the use of Cryptocurrency will be a door to adoption in the region.

Bitcoin cash needs to leverage this technology to make its adoption movement in the African region more grounded without leaving anyone out.

I recommend that the Bitcoin cash community, developer, or any entity capable of implementing a service like the Machankura Bitcoin service look into it. This will greatly help with making Bitcoin cash BCH more popular in Africa.

The use of Cryptocurrency in a country like Nigeria is increasing by the day, but unfortunately, Bitcoin cash BCH is not among the top cryptocurrency known by the majority in the country. With such a service that doesn't need an internet connection and without a need for a smartphone Bitcoin cash BCH can gain traction among the populace.