Inside Bitbiashara, Tena Estate's Bitcoin Circular Economy

Inside Bitbiashara, the Tena Estate Grandmatt Shop has sold groceries, household goods and stationery to families in Nairobi's Tena Estate for years. "The demand is there. The challenge is working capital," Geyser posted on October 26, as it introduced David, the entrepreneur behind the shop, and his $772 circular grant.

The grant runs through Bitbiashara, a Bitcoin circular economy in Tena Estate that says 16 merchants there accept Bitcoin.

Here's what the grant pays for, what Bitbiashara has built in Tena Estate and which other merchants it has helped fund.

What Grandmatt Shop's $772 Circular Grant Pays For

Inside Bitbiashara, Tena Estate's Bitcoin Circular Economy — photo

The grant buys stationery and other stock in bulk for the 10‑week school holiday and the January term, we reported when Geyser launched it during an X Space on October 21. Parents buy stationery to keep their children busy at home over the holiday, said Rosaline Wangui Waithiegeni, Bitbiashara's founder.

David has run the shop for 10 years, Rosaline said. He plans to pay about 50,000 sats a week into Bitbiashara's community fund for the next merchant, according to the Geyser grant page.

A circular grant carries no interest and no fixed repayment. Recipients pay forward what they can, and the field partner, here Bitbiashara, passes it on.

Bitbiashara's merchants often need more capital than a few hundred dollars. "When they are stuck, they are stuck because of something like 100,000 Kenyan shillings," Rosaline said, "like a thousand dollars or seven hundred dollars and above."

What Is Bitbiashara? Tena Estate's Bitcoin Circular Economy

Bitbiashara's name joins Bitcoin with biashara, the Swahili word for business. Besides its 16 merchants, its site counts more than 100 people circulating bitcoin daily and over 1,000 Bitcoin transactions captured on camera.

Every Friday at 6pm, it hosts a coffee hangout for learning about Bitcoin, and its site counts 53 sessions so far. Its NextGen Village program has 33 children enrolled, and more than 10 have taken part in gymnastics performances and chess competitions.

Bitbiashara is also part of the Circular Bitcoin Africa Fund, which pays out for filmed bitcoin payments at local shops. In the fund's Epoch 4 main run, Bitbiashara accounted for 420 of 1,698 approved videos.

Bitbiashara's Other Circular Grants in Tena Estate

Bitbiashara says four businesses have been funded through Geyser's circular grants. Lydia's Richland, a 14‑year‑old neighborhood shop, got a $555 grant to restock. Jennifer's Digital Mutura was fully funded at about $378 for a sheltered space, better cooking equipment and more stock.

Moses Makori used another Bitbiashara grant to buy a coffee machine for Haven Food Court, the restaurant he runs in Tena Estate. The restaurant has voluntarily paid forward 100,000 sats into its community fund, Geyser said in an October 9 post.