Crypto Altruists Episode 198 - Pesabase - Revolutionizing Remittances: Delivering $8.5M to Last Mile Communities with Stablecoins
For episode 198, we’re excited to welcome Eric Alsop, Chief Technology Officer at Pesabase—a blockchain-based remittance platform making it faster, cheaper, and more secure to send money to South Sudan and beyond. With over $8.5 million transacted and counting, Pesabase has built one of the most successful Web3-powered remittance systems in one of the most underserved and hard to reach regions in the world.
From mobile agents to full-service banks, and from smart contracts to stablecoins, Pesabase is a masterclass in meeting users where they are—without compromising on security or speed.
This episode is a powerful look into how blockchain can deliver real-world impact—especially in the places that need it most.
You’ll learn:
Why traditional remittance systems are failing those who need them most—and how one startup is using crypto rails to deliver $8.5 million in remittances to last-mile communities.
How Pesabase has cracked the code on Web3 user experience by abstracting blockchain complexity for seamless, real-world adoption.
And how stablecoins and smart contracts are reshaping the future of cross-border payments and financial inclusion.
Thank you to PIPE gDAO for sponsoring the Crypto Altruists podcast! 🙏
PIPE gDAO is leveraging blockchain for their University Real World Asset IP Launchpad that helps bring groundbreaking ideas from lab to market. By joining the Pipe Associate Network (aka PAN), associates can create a profile highlighting their skills, be notified of opportunities, and then contribute fractional work to pre-IPO companies in return for equity and tokens.
Check out their Linktree for links to all of their socials so you can get involved and join this growing community!
Key Takeaways
💸 Remittances Are Broken: In many parts of the world, sending money home comes with painful costs—averaging around 10% and sometimes reaching as high as 30%—and delays that can stretch for days. This burden is especially heavy in places like South Sudan, which has the lowest GDP in Africa and limited financial infrastructure. Pesabase is flipping the script with a blockchain-powered platform that delivers fast, secure remittances at a fraction of the cost.
🤝 Web3 That Works Without Saying 'Web3': One of Pesabase’s biggest wins? Their users don’t even know they’re using blockchain—and that’s by design. By blending familiar tools like mobile agents and local mini-banks with crypto infrastructure, they’ve created a seamless user experience that meets people where they are. True adoption happens when blockchain fades into the background and just works.
⚙️ Smart Contracts + Stablecoins = Instant, Low-Cost Transfers: Pesabase has harnessed the power of crypto rails to make cross-border transactions nearly instant and far more affordable. Their smart contract system automates every step—from fiat conversion to stablecoin transfer to local currency withdrawal—creating an end-to-end flow that’s fast, reliable, and built for scale.
Follow Eric & Pesabase
Episode Time Stamps
02:05 - To kick things off, I’d love to learn more about your background and journey to blockchain and remittances. What led you to focus on building blockchain-based financial solutions for Africa, and was there a defining moment that shaped your mission?
05:05 - To lay the groundwork for the conversation, can you please outline the challenges and barriers that exist with traditional remittance platforms?
08:10 - Can you give an intro to the mission of Pesabase, and how you are addressing these challenges? Why is blockchain an important piece of the puzzle?
12:15 - Pesabase has been operating for 8 years and has facilitated millions in transactions. Can you tell me about the early days—what challenges did you face in launching a blockchain-powered remittance platform, and how did you overcome them?
15:20 - Walk me through the technology behind the platform – the use of smart contracts, stablecoins, and crypto rails - and how the remittance gets from point A to point B.
18:45 - Tell me more about the role of mobile agents and how it helps create a seamless user experience.
22:30 - It seems like you’ve solved the puzzle of onboarding users, and on ramping/off ramping fiat – tell me more about your approach.
25:10 - Tell me about the reward tokens and how it incentivizes users to participate in the network.
28:15 - Tell me more about the future of Pesabase and what you have in the works.
31:45 - Tell me more about the numbers and the impact that you have had so far.
33:45 - Real-world assets (RWA) tokenization is a growing trend in Web3. Do you see opportunities for Pesabase to tokenize assets beyond stablecoins, such as land, commodities, or financial products?
38:20 - What are some of the challenges that we need to overcome to really see mass adoption of Web3, especially for those that are unbanked?
42:20 - What’s the best way for listeners to learn more about Pesabase?
44:50 - Africa is emerging as a major hub for blockchain and crypto adoption. What do you think makes Africa uniquely positioned for this wave of innovation?
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DISCLAIMER
While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
