Centbee, a London-based company that facilitates digital money payments on the Bitcoin blockchain BSV, has secured $1 million in a pre-Series A round of funding led by Ayre Ventures. This venture capital firm specializes in funding blockchain and Bitcoin ventures. 

Centbee has stated that the funding will improve its technical and operating capacity to drive further growth.

Founded in 2017, Centbee offers a fast and intuitive money transfer service via its mobile app on iOS and Android. It has already facilitated tens of thousands of cross-border transfers into Africa using the secure and cost-efficient BSV blockchain and a service called Minit Money. 

The app also allows users to request payments, send local currency to other people directly, and access various digital cash products and services. 

Mint Money claims to provide a “true peer-to-peer” remittance service, as every transaction is recorded on the BSV ledger, which provides full transparency. 

The use of Bitcoin for remittance payments could be faster than traditional finance mechanisms like SWIFT for casual global money transfers. 

Centbee plans to scale up its Bitcoin remittance service with this funding in 2023. The company bills itself as “more than just a digital cash wallet,” emphasizing chat features and connecting with friends and family. 

The Centbee app also includes ChatPay, which allows users to send money via an in-wallet chat application. Headquartered in London, with offices in South Africa, Centbee was founded by co-CEOs Lorien Gamaroff and Angus Brown.

Gamaroff is a highly regarded expert in blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies, with a wealth of experience consulting regulators and corporations internationally. Brown has 20 years of experience in payments and banking, including the role of CEO of eBucks.com.

The funding raised for Centbee for its Bitcoin remittance service highlights the potential for blockchain technology to improve cross-border payments and financial services. It also demonstrates the growing interest and investment in blockchain-based companies and their potential to disrupt traditional financial systems.