BitcoinFriendlySA, the Cape Town‑based platform helping South Africans spend and accept Bitcoin, has announced the launch of what it describes as the country's first Bitcoin‑only e‑commerce store. The platform, operated by writer and Bitcoin advocate Nick Darlington, accepts payments exclusively in BTC via the Lightning Network — with no fiat currency option of any kind.



BitcoinFriendlySA Background

BitcoinFriendlySA began as a broader cryptocurrency directory before narrowing its focus entirely to Bitcoin. Today it combines a verified directory of Bitcoin‑accepting businesses, educational content through its Academy section, and the newly launched online store.


The Bitcoin‑only store

The store curates products from South African small businesses that already accept Bitcoin in person. Payments are processed through BTCPay Server (an open‑source, non‑custodial payment processor), with invoices settled via Lightning. Nationwide flat‑rate shipping is available, with fulfillment handled within one to two business days.


"Customer pays BTC → merchant receives BTC. No fiat, no middlemen, no conversion." The BitcoinFriendlySA circular economy model.



The store's founding merchant partners all independently listed in BitcoinFriendlySA's 2025 directory are:

  • Ekhaya Coffee Roasters (Strand, Cape Town): Winner of Best New Roastery at the 2024 Coffee Magazine Awards, Ekhaya roasts specialty beans on‑site at the Strand beachfront Pavilion. The name means "home" in Zulu and Xhosa, reflecting the founders' ethos of community and belonging.


  • Siki's Koffee Kafe (Khayelitsha, Cape Town): Founded by Sikelela Dibela, this café sources African beans from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Burundi and serves as a community hub. It is a core participant in the Bitcoin Loxion Circular Economy, a Khayelitsha initiative driving financial empowerment through Bitcoin.


  • Northern Plateau Rooibos (Cape Town): A specialist distributor of 100% pure rooibos tea sourced from the Bokkeveld Plateau in the Northern Cape, shipping domestically and internationally.

Businesses already accepting Bitcoin that wish to join can contact the platform at nick@bitcoinfriendlysa.co.za.



Why This Matters

South Africa ranks among the world's leading markets for cryptocurrency uptake — estimates place adult ownership at approximately 19.6%, trailing only Turkey (25.6%) and Brazil (20.6%) among surveyed countries. Yet most holders still treat Bitcoin as a store of value rather than a medium of everyday exchange.


The BitcoinFriendlySA store creates a practical channel for South Africans to spend Bitcoin on locally produced goods without converting to rand or routing payments through fiat intermediaries.


MoneyBadger's integrations with Scan to Pay, Zapper, Peach Payments, and Yoyo have already enabled Bitcoin payments at hundreds of thousands of retail locations nationwide, from Bootlegger and Makro to Clicks and Vodacom.


Grassroots circular economy projects from Africa reflect the same utility‑first logic. This store adds a curated, fully Bitcoin‑native layer on top of that infrastructure.



How To Shop On BitcoinFriendlySA

Visit bitcoinfriendlysa.co.za/shop, browse products, and check out via a Lightning invoice from BTCPay Server, payable from any compatible Lightning wallet. The Academy section has beginner‑friendly guides for those new to Lightning payments.


Ready to spend your Bitcoin? Visit the store, Follow on X @BitcoinFrndlySA