Bitcoin Forum

I'll be going there for a few weeks and I depend on cellular connectivity for internet access, so I need pointers to Telegram or WhatsApp groups where there's are already people sending each other mobile phone credit in exchange for bitcoin. I can also take Discord or Facebook or Signal groups if there are any.

Until then I'm going to be limited to using (possibly bad) WiFi connectivity.

Where I live now it is possible for two people on the same carrier to send mobile phone credit to each other by dialing a special number. I am hoping there is something similar in Ethiopia too though I'm not sure how many members here are familiar with them.

I believe everyone there is using an Ethio Telecom SIM right? I think that's the only carrier there so I shouldn't have trouble finding people with the same carrier as mine.

(Yes, I know i can just use Bitrefill but I need a fallback in case that doesn't work out.)

P.S. in the event that nobody has any groups to offer, I offer to pay anyone who can do the balance transfer for me once I get the SIM. But I strongly prefer getting pointers to groups instead.

Are you familiar with Electronium? They have a worldwide mobile recharge(top-up) service. You may install their apps and buy a few Electronium to recharge your mobile sim from anywhere. I think most of the countries they already covered and I just see they already have Ethiopia in their country list during mobile recharge. I think it would help you to top-up your mobile. I had been using some sometimes, receiving top-up instantly. But if you have problems with verifying KYC then skip this post. Because their verification is quite hard.

You mean this app? (App Store link (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/electroneum/id1270774992)) (Website (https://electroneum.com/)). I'll have to find a way to buy ETN with BTC.

My requirements are modest, I only need enough birr to cover 3 monthly contracts of 10GB 4G, and according to this (https://www.ethiotelecom.et/package-offers/) I'm going to need 520 x 3 = 1560 birr. I have no idea if these rates are for 4G but I'd be appalled if it's for anything slower than that. Let's round this up to 1600 because I have no idea how much balance will be deducted monthly from tax. Still, it's only 0.0011BTC of credit I need to buy or about $40, so I don't think I'll need to pass Electronium's KYC. I bought $50/$60 worth of gift cards from other sites on different occasions without problems.

Yes, exactly. I am talking about ETN. You will find a few easy ways to buy ETN. They are listed on a couple of exchanges including KuCoin. On the apps, there is an exchange option where you will find the exchange list including instant exchange. So I don't think it will hard to find to gain ETN. Just make sure your appropriate top-up option is there.

Since you haven't faced any issue without KYC, then you can try. I don't have an idea since my account is verified, they forced me since there was the balance I bought during ICO.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the process of holding funds on an exchange while I'm abroad, especially given that I haven't opened any exchange accounts yet (many are not even available in Sudan, but this is kind of a moot point since I'm about to travel anyway - still, there's going to be limited bandwidth and time available for me to deposit BTC exchange and withdraw ETN, and I'd rather be able to obtain ETN as soon as I arrive.

Would a direct currency exchange with you be possible?

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This is going to be my last resort because I am having problems listing the Ethiopia operators:

https://i.ibb.co/zhx9N78/50310-D3-C-FF2-C-4296-9430-5-A08-C6863-A5-E.jpg

And this is without using a VPN. If I turn it on, I cannot even open the app. Doesn't matter which country it's set to. Maybe it blocks people from using VPNs to use their app.

Even you don't need to use me. It seems simpleswap (https://simpleswap.io/) is listed in exchange section on ETN apps. You don't need to create an account there. There is a volatile issue, so better handle it by yourself.

Don't worry, when I use the same then I faced the same issue. Just try it multiple times or after a few times. You will get a list there. But seems only one operator listed there prepaid and postpaid. Here you can see. Doesn't necessary to use a VPN.

@Coolcryptovator Now I have managed to view the carriers, I see a screen that lets me select different amounts of top up but unfortunately electronium is charging extra ETN for birr than the exchange rate value.

https://i.ibb.co/3135Pg0/C4838809-F64-C-40-B7-B8-BA-7-B3-EDF8-BEA80.jpg

As you can see here, 1000 birr will cost me about 5944 ETN or $34, but according to the birr/dollar exchange rate, 1000 birr is worth about $25. That's almost a 33% markup from the official exchange rates. It may look small but for the larger entries, we're now looking at double-digit differences in price, and all this extra markup adds up the more subscriptions you buy. By comparison, Bitrefill charges 0.000784BTC or $28 (just 12% markup) for the same amount.

Then better to use Bitrefill. I just tried it once a time for testing purposes only. As I said I am holding a few ETN, and after a long time discover it. So since there was an option to recharge mobile, that's why I was curious to verify it. Because I was unaware that we can recharge our mobile balance directly with cryptocurrency. I will not use it without very emergency circumstances. Just it is an option I have shown you.