Celo mobile-first blockchain

Celo is a mobile-first blockchain built to put crypto and DeFi into the pocket of anyone with a phone, and it now runs as an Ethereum Layer 2 using the Optimism OP Stack since March 2025, keeping its low fees and fast settlement while inheriting Ethereum’s security. The network is EVM-compatible, so existing smart contracts and developer tools can be reused with little friction. Celo removes a large part of the onboarding friction by mapping phone numbers to on‑chain public keys, which makes sending funds feel as simple as an SMS and lowers the barrier for users who never touched a crypto address. The protocol supports native stablecoins such as cUSD and cEUR and allows transaction fees to be paid in multiple stablecoins, so users do not need to hold the native token for every small payment. Technical design choices target mobile constraints: transactions are lightweight, fees are sub‑cent, and block finality approaches one second to enable near‑instant confirmations on modest devices. This makes the chain suitable for remittances, microfinance, merchant payments and mobile lending where speed and predictability matter. The CELO token serves as a unit of governance and a staking asset in the proof‑of‑stake model, so holders can earn yield and participate in protocol decisions. The project also emphasizes impact and sustainability; it has funded and stewarded hundreds of projects worldwide and operates with carbon‑negative goals to align financial inclusion with ecological priorities. Moving to an L2 model improves interoperability and scaling for DeFi applications while reducing the burden on mobile wallets that cannot store full chain history. Integration with secure custody solutions and portfolio management apps lets users keep private keys offline in hardware devices and still manage assets from lightweight interfaces. That said, the phone‑number identity shortcut trades some privacy for convenience, so careful application design and user education remain essential. For newcomers the practical takeaways are clear: Celo offers fast, cheap and mobile‑native rails for stable payments and DeFi; it interoperates with the broader Ethereum ecosystem; and it provides on‑chain governance and staking opportunities, all while pursuing a mission to expand access to financial services globally.