My journey building a Bitcoin project and what I learned along the way.
Introduction
I recently worked on a Bitcoin project to solve a simple problem:
How can people easily use Bitcoin and convert it into cash?
In places like Kenya, people use mobile money every day. But Bitcoin is still hard to use.
So I decided to build a simple system where users can:
- Send and receive Bitcoin
- Convert Bitcoin to cash
- Withdraw through agents
💡 The Idea
The project is a Bitcoin-to-cash system.
What it does:
- Send and receive Bitcoin
- Convert Bitcoin to local money (KES)
- Allow withdrawals through agents
The goal is to make Bitcoin easy for normal people.
⚠️ Challenges I'M
1. Lightning Network is Hard
- Hard to set up
- Payments sometimes fail
- Not beginner-friendly
Solution:
I started with simple wallet APIs and focused on user experience first.
2. Internet Problems
- Slow or unstable internet
- Transactions can fail
Solution:
Used lightweight systems and added retry handling.
3. Converting Bitcoin to Cash
- No direct way to mobile money
- Bitcoin price changes a lot
Solution:
Used exchange rate APIs and created an agent system.
4. Security Issues
- Risk of losing funds
- Trust issues
Solution:
Did not store private keys and added transaction confirmation.
5. User Understanding
- Bitcoin is hard for beginners
Solution:
Kept everything simple and easy to understand.
🧠 What I Learned
- Solve real problems
- Keep things simple
- Focus on users
- Start small (MVP first)
🔮 What’s Next?
- Improve the system
- Add more agents
- Build a mobile app
🙌 Final Thoughts
Building a Bitcoin project is not just coding.
It is about solving real problems.
Bitcoin is powerful—but only if it is simple and useful.
💬 Let’s Connect
- GitHub: VALENTINE-it
- LinkedIn: Valentine Omondi
