PayPal has announced that it will shut down its long-standing M-PESA Mobile Money service website (paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa) on 16 August 2025. This move follows the integration of a PayPal mini app into the M-PESA Super App by Safaricom, streamlining the process for users to move funds between their PayPal and M-PESA accounts.
The shutdown will mark the end of an era for millions of Kenyan freelancers, SMEs, and digital entrepreneurs who have relied on the legacy portal, powered by global payments infrastructure provider Thunes, for nearly a decade.
The transition is seen as a strategic move to support Kenya’s rapidly expanding community of freelancers, remote workers, and digital entrepreneurs many of whom rely heavily on PayPal to receive international payments for services rendered across global platforms.
According to data from the Communications Authority of Kenya, the country has witnessed a surge in digital gig economy participation, with platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal naming Kenya as one of their fastest-growing freelancer markets in Africa.
“To continue transferring money, users must now link their PayPal account directly through the M-PESA app,” reads the official notice displayed on the web portal. “Transfers via the PayPal mini app or the PayPal Mobile Money website will no longer be available.”
The integration of the PayPal mini app into the M-PESA Super App is part of Safaricom’s wider digital transformation strategy. The mini app provides a seamless user experience within the same ecosystem, removing the need to access a separate website to manage international funds.
Previously, Kenyan users had to visit the Thunes-powered site, manually log in, and initiate withdrawals or top-ups. With the mini app, these actions can now be performed directly within the Super App, reducing friction and improving transaction efficiency.
Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telco and financial services provider, has been increasingly evolving M-PESA from a mobile money platform into a full-fledged financial super app, including features like utility payments, insurance, credit access, and now international money transfers via PayPal.
After the shutdown date, users will no longer be able to use the paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa site for any transactions. Instead, all money transfers must be conducted using the M-PESA Super App, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms.
To continue using the service:
Download or update the M-PESA Super App
Locate the PayPal mini app within the app
Link your PayPal account from within the M-PESA interface
Initiate your top-ups or withdrawals
This move is expected to improve transaction transparency, security, and user convenience key concerns among digital financial service users in Kenya.
Kenya has long been regarded as a hub for digital workers in Africa, and services like PayPal-to-M-PESA have become essential for receiving payments from international clients. With the shift, freelancers and online businesses are encouraged to transition to the new mini app system before the August deadline.
James Otieno, a Nairobi-based web developer, welcomed the change.
“It’s easier and faster with the M-PESA app now. No more switching between websites or losing login sessions,” he said.
The shutdown of the PayPal Mobile Money website highlights the accelerating trend toward super apps in the African fintech ecosystem. Safaricom’s Super App joins a global movement where companies consolidate multiple financial services under a single user interface, mirroring similar models in Asia, such as WeChat and Grab.
Thunes, the company that powered the soon-to-be-defunct portal, has played a crucial role in cross-border payments. However, its removal from this partnership indicates Safaricom’s ambition to own more of the customer journey while maintaining key international integrations.
Do you have any story or press releases you want to share? Send tips to editor@envestreetfinancial.com
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to ensure you don’t miss out on any