NAIROBI, Kenya, May 20 – Sorted Wallet, a non-custodial digital wallet designed for feature phones and low-end smartphones, has secured $4.4 million in seed funding to accelerate expansion across emerging markets.
The funding round included $3.4 million in equity financing led by Tether and Gnosis, alongside participation from Movement, Angel Invest, and angel investors including the founders of RWA.io.
The company said the new capital will help strengthen its footprint in existing markets while supporting expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Unlike many cryptocurrency wallet developers that traditionally focused on users with high-end smartphones, fast internet connectivity, and stable fiat currencies, Sorted Wallet targeted underserved users relying on feature phones for internet access.
Founded after identifying in 2022 that millions across Africa and South Asia use feature phones as their main digital access point, the company developed a lightweight wallet under 10MB that operates smoothly on feature phones and entry-level smartphones.
The wallet operates on a self-custodial model, allowing users to retain full control of their digital assets. Since launch, the platform has surpassed 500,000 downloads across 160 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Madagascar.
“Over the years, digital asset use cases have evolved from trading tools to real-life applications, promoting financial freedom and inclusion,” said Paolo Ardoino. “However, to achieve true inclusion, we must reach hundreds of millions of people who cannot afford smartphones or data plans.”
Sorted Wallet said Tether’s investment reflects a shared ambition of expanding financial inclusion by removing barriers linked to device affordability and connectivity limitations.
The startup now plans to scale its infrastructure through deeper integrations with regional telecommunications firms and mobile network operators.
“Three years ago we built a wallet for a $20 phone. Nobody else thought it was worth building for. 500,000 downloads later, they know better,” said Stephen Browne. “This round is how we will find the next 100 million.”
