Forget “mining” for Bitcoin in a dark room; the next big thing in the Kenyan coastal tech scene involves getting your feet wet in the salty marshes of the coastline!
While most people see mangroves as just tangled trees, a tech-savvy group of Kenyan innovators sees them as “green gold”: in the era where the Blue Economy can be exploited, leveraging on technology for the benefit of the community and country at large.
A High-Tech Shield for Coastal Ecosystems
As climate risks intensify across coastal regions, MangroveCoin, is emerging as a Kenyan climate-tech startup using blockchain technology to incentivize mangrove conservation and restoration.
Launched in 2025, the venture serves as a digital platform that enables coastal communities to map, verify, and monetize their restoration efforts.
By transforming environmental value into tokenized carbon credits, the project aims to make conservation measurable, transparent, and—most importantly—investable.
This intersection of nature and code is led by Zack Oluoch, a computer scientist and Web3 innovator specializing in ESG and climate tech.
“MangroveCoin is leveraging blockchain technology to incentivize mangrove conservation while creating new income opportunities for coastal communities,” Zack Oluoch, Project Lead at MangroveCoin told TechMoran. “The platform issues digital tokens tied to verified mangrove planting and conservation activities, enabling individuals and organizations to transparently track, support, and fund climate action.”
The Power of Data: 6,000 Hectares and Counting
The startup isn’t just dreaming big; it is already delivering tangible results on the ground.
To date, MangroveCoin has successfully mapped over 6,000 hectares of mangrove ecosystems.
This effort is bolstered by a robust technical team, including Henry Kariuki, who oversees the blockchain and software architecture, and Stella Mugeni, the Head of Partnerships and Chairlady of North Coast Innovators, a flagship community-based organization (CBO).
The initiative’s growth is reflected in its expanding network:
5 coastal CBOs partnered.
310 community members onboarded.
112 official platform sign-ups recorded.
By working closely with Beach Management Units (BMUs), the startup ensures local ownership.
Currently, the platform’s secure and scalable deployment is fueled by USD 5,000 worth of global-scale AWS cloud infrastructure.
Scaling Up: 150,000 Tons of Impact
Based in Mombasa County (specifically the Bamburi–Utange area), MangroveCoin noted it is positioning itself as a primary driver of blue carbon finance in Africa.
The startup’s projections for the future are even more ambitious than its current milestones.
If adopted at scale, MangroveCoin estimates it could support the restoration of more than 10 million mangroves.
Furthermore, this would enable the sequestration of over 150,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent, providing a massive boost to global carbon-reduction goals.
Beyond Carbon: Empowering the Community
However, the mission extends beyond simple chemistry. MangroveCoin said it is designed to improve community livelihoods by rewarding youth and women’s groups for verified environmental work.
By linking real-world conservation data with tokenized rewards, the initiative addresses long-standing challenges in nature-based solutions, such as sustainability and transparent monitoring.
As of January 2026, the startup continues to onboard early users and partners during its pilot phase along Kenya’s coastline.
It represents a growing wave of African innovations blending Web3 and inclusive economic models to solve global challenges from the ground up.
