Cloud9
A Kenyan account that holds eight currencies and settles cross-border payments in stablecoins; 25,000+ accounts in its first year (company claim).
Kenyan multi-currency account (KES, USD, EUR, GBP and more) with USDT/USDC wallets and cross-border transfers; cards announced.
- Who holds it
- A sponsor bank behind the brand — not the app you signed up with — Partner bank (Choice Microfinance Bank, CBK-regulated); operated by Cloud Nine Payments Ltd.
- The ledger
- Split between a program manager and the sponsor bank — the modular setup that broke in Synapse.
- If it fails
- Any claim runs through the sponsor bank, and only works if the two ledgers reconcile.
Derived from Cloud9’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | hybrid · SMB & startups |
| HQ | Nairobi, KE |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Partner-bank model |
| License detail | Partner bank (Choice Microfinance Bank, CBK-regulated); operated by Cloud Nine Payments Ltd |
| Card | No card |
| Stablecoins | Yes |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Africa |
| Countries | Kenya |
| Founders | Tesh Mbaabu, Mesongo Sibuti |
| Funding | ~$1M pre-seed (Alliance, Techstars) |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · privacy ↗ · @cloud9_money ↗
Common questions about Cloud9
What is Cloud9?
Cloud9 is a fiat-and-crypto neobank built for SMB & startups, headquartered in Nairobi, KE and founded in 2025. Your money is held custodially, so Cloud9 or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It operates on a partner-bank model (Partner bank (Choice Microfinance Bank, CBK-regulated); operated by Cloud Nine Payments Ltd).
Does Cloud9 have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues no card of its own. It is available in Africa.
Does Cloud9 require KYC?
Yes. Cloud9 requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a partner-bank model.
Peers
Crypto.com · Binance Card · Bybit Card · OKX Card · Bitget Card · KuCard
Cloud9 appears in
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (86) · Neobanks that require identity verification (349) · Neobanks available in Africa (96) · Neobanks for small businesses and startups (39) · Neobanks with no card of their own (74)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.