Building the Crypto App Backed by Tether — and Trusted Across the Middle East
How Luby partnered with Kem to design, build, and launch a self-custody crypto wallet for users in Kuwait and emerging markets — from a limited MVP to a production-grade app, live on iOS and Android.
Kem — Financial Freedom
Through Crypto
Kem is a fintech platform built for the Middle East, on a mission to make financial freedom accessible through crypto assets. Operating primarily in Kuwait — a market where traditional banking is expensive, bureaucratic, and inaccessible for many — Kem enables users to store value in Bitcoin, hold and spend digital dollars, invest in gold, and transact globally with a physical debit card.
The company raised US$3 million from Tether, whose CEO Paolo Ardoino stated: "Our investment in Kem App perfectly aligns with our mission to advance financial freedom for all."
Kem has since been recognized as Audience Favorite at the Visa Everywhere Initiative in Qatar, establishing itself as one of the most promising fintech products in the region.
Financial Inclusion Through Crypto — In One of the World's Most Restricted Banking Markets
Kem was created to solve a structural problem: in regions where billions of people remain unbanked or underbanked, traditional financial services fail to deliver autonomy, stability, or accessibility. In Kuwait and across the Middle East, users face limited banking infrastructure, exposure to currency instability, and state controls over money movement.
Kem's answer was a self-custody crypto platform — one where users own their assets directly, without depending on traditional intermediaries. To bring that vision to life, Kem needed more than a development team. They needed a partner capable of:
From Vision to Production — Full Product
and Engineering Partnership
Luby joined as Kem's strategic product and engineering partner, leading technical development and delivery management across the full product lifecycle.
Cross-Platform Mobile Development
We built the Kem application in React Native, delivering a single codebase with platform-specific refinements for iOS and Android — ensuring performance, security, and a consistent experience across devices.
Product Ownership & Delivery Management
Luby's Product Owner integrated directly into Kem's team, managing backlog, scope, and technical deliveries alongside Kem's own developers. This hybrid model ensured alignment between strategic vision and technical execution at every stage.
Key Integrations
PIBs for payments and banking onboarding infrastructure; Interlace for debit card issuance and management, enabling Kem Cards across 150+ countries.
App Store Navigation
One of the most operationally complex challenges was getting a self-custody crypto wallet approved on the Apple App Store. Luby managed this process directly — including meetings, formal appeals, and follow-ups with Apple's review team — until final approval was secured. This is a capability most dev teams simply don't have.
Design Excellence
We maintained pixel-perfect visual execution throughout, working in close governance with Kem's design team to preserve brand consistency across every screen and interaction.
Features Delivered
A Production-Grade Fintech Platform
Live, Validated, and Ready to Scale
Kem now operates a modern, secure, and intuitive financial platform — live on official app stores despite strict regulatory requirements, and ready to serve emerging markets with high social impact potential.
Product Live on iOS & Android
Approved on the App Store after direct engagement with Apple's review team
Backed by Tether
US$3M investment validating the product vision and market opportunity
Award Recognition
Audience Favorite — Visa Everywhere Initiative Qatar
Global Spending
Kem Cards accepted in 150+ countries through Interlace integration
Financial Infrastructure
Integrated payment, exchange, card, and onboarding systems working in sync
Foundation to Scale
Architecture and delivery model ready for regional and global expansion
Pixel-Perfect Design
Consistent execution maintaining Kem's visual identity across every screen and interaction
Technologies & Expertise
The quality of the people working there is of the highest level. Luby Software delivered high-quality work on time, meeting the client's expectations. The team was detail-oriented and meticulous in their project management and documentation. Luby Software's outstanding resources and solution-finding approach were hallmarks of their work.
— COO, Kem App