Welcome, Luno! The London-based cryptocurrency exchange has finally made its grand entrance into Kenya, and you can bet it's going to be tested. As someone who has just signed up and tried my hand at navigating the crypto waters, let me take you through my very entertaining experience.

First off, let me tell you that trying to get my phone number on Luno’s sign-up page was like trying to squeeze a giraffe into a maruti. Why? Because of spaces. You see, I’m used to entering my phone number the good old way, with spaces in between the digits. But Luno had other plans. They didn’t seem to like these spaces. I entered my number with the usual gaps, only for the system to repeatedly reject it like a bouncer at a club saying, "Nah, you can’t come in with that!"

Confused and mildly frustrated, I found myself sweating bullets, wondering if I had already been blacklisted from the crypto universe. My head was swirling with thoughts like: Is this the end? Will I be never use Luno? But wait, hope was on the horizon. I clicked on the support button, and within mere moments, a fast-acting customer service hero appeared. No, they didn’t wear a cape (though they might as well have). The support team was quick to point out that the system prefers numbers without spaces—simple as that. Just like that, I was back on track.

Now that my phone number was officially accepted, I was ready to dive into Luno’s world of crypto. I could already imagine myself stacking coins, trading tokens, and feeling like a digital millionaire. After all, every crypto enthusiast dreams of that moment when they make their first trade and get that satisfying "cha-ching!" sound in their heads.

But before I could get carried away, I had to take the next step—verifying my account. Oh, the joy of submitting a selfie with my ID to prove I’m not a robot, or worse, a cybercriminal trying to launder creatively created money. The process wasn’t too painful, but I did have to take several photos of my ID from angles that I’m not entirely sure were necessary (Does my ID need to be so well-lit? Who’s going to check that closely?). But I digress, it was all part of the process, and eventually, my account was verified. Phew!

Now that I was officially in, it was time to check out the real treasure—the trading platform. I was cautiously optimistic. The layout seemed easy to navigate, with all the essential crypto pairs and charts right at my fingertips. I could almost hear the sound of digital coins clinking in my pocket. The app’s design was sleek, with a clean interface that didn’t make me feel like I needed a degree in rocket science just to understand what was going on. I mean, I can barely understand how to make a good cup of coffee, so a crypto app that doesn’t leave me scrambling for tutorials is a good sign.

Next week, however, the real test begins. It’s time for deposits, withdrawals, and, of course, figuring out whether the charges are as light on the wallet as my newest, most exciting hobby: crypto trading. I’m hoping they’ll be as speedy as González , and hopefully just as human-friendly too. I’ve heard crypto exchanges are notorious for hidden fees, so I’ll be keeping an eagle eye out for anything that looks fishy. Fingers crossed, Luno’s fees are more like a friendly handshake than a secret handshake designed to rob you blind.

In the meantime, I’ve started to dabble in the crypto market. I mean, who doesn’t want to be the next big crypto mogul, right? I’ve made a couple of small transactions (just to get the hang of it, of course). So far, I haven’t accidentally bought a yacht or been locked out of my account, so that’s a win in my book. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the platform handles withdrawals. Will it be like transferring money between your bank accounts—or will it feel like sending a letter across the globe, never knowing if it will reach its destination?

And let’s not forget the ultimate question that plagues all newcomers to crypto: Will I be able to move my money around as easily as they say? Luno promises fast, efficient transactions, and I’m eager to see if it lives up to the hype. Will moving my funds feel like a casual stroll in the park, or will it take longer than waiting for your grandmother to finish telling her life story? I’ll keep you updated.

So far, Luno has been a pleasant enough ride, with a few bumps along the way (but what journey doesn’t have those?). The customer service? Top-notch. The user interface? Smooth enough to make me feel like a seasoned pro, despite my humble beginnings.

Next week, it’s go time. I’ll be depositing funds, moving money around, and crossing my fingers that the charges stay low and the process stays speedy. Stay tuned for my follow-up article: “How to Avoid Paying Fees That Feel Like You’re Being Robbed in Broad Daylight.” Fingers crossed, Luno’s charges are as fast and fair as they promised. If they are, I might just become the next crypto convert and start talking about “blockchain” at parties—but only the cool ones.

Until then, I’ll be here trying to convince myself that I’m not just dabbling in crypto for the fun of it... okay, maybe I am. But who can blame me?