Fintech
Latest articles about fintech in African payments and fintech
Nigeria's Population Boom Fuels Data Centre Expansion
Nigeria's growing population and digital adoption are spurring a significant expansion in its data centre sector. This trend is attracting international investment to meet the rising demand for digital services across the country.
Cascador Invests $5 Million in Nigerian Startups
Cascador has invested over $5 million in seven Nigerian startups through its Catalytic Fund, supporting growth-stage companies in agriculture, clean energy, and artificial intelligence. The funding aims to address the 'missing middle' challenge in African entrepreneurship by providing capital for expansion and job creation.
Airtel Nigeria Resumes Airtime Credit Services After Regulatory Suspension
Airtel Nigeria has restored its airtime credit services to over 63 million subscribers, becoming the first major telecom operator to relaunch the offering after a six-week suspension. This follows new consumer lending regulations introduced by the FCCPC, which reclassified airtime credit as a form of consumer lending.
Nigeria Deregulates Airtime Credit, Opens Market to Local Firms
Nigeria has deregulated its N3 trillion airtime credit market, allowing nine local companies to compete in a sector previously dominated by South Africa's Optasia. This move is expected to boost local participation, foster competition, and address concerns about capital flight and market concentration.
Nigerian Regulator Expands Airtime Credit List Amid Legal Challenges
Nigeria's FCCPC has approved four new airtime and data credit operators, bringing the total to nine, despite an ongoing court injunction and administrative suspension of the DEON regulations under which they were approved. This expansion has sparked industry questions regarding the validity of these new approvals given the legal challenges to the regulatory framework.
Flutterwave Announces Employee Promotions and Global Relief Package
Flutterwave has promoted 25% of its global employees and introduced a comprehensive global relief package, including economic relief payments and cost-of-living adjustments. These measures aim to support employee well-being and career growth amid evolving global economic conditions and rising living costs.
Flutterwave Processes $40 Billion, Expands Across Africa
African payments firm Flutterwave has processed over $40 billion across 1 billion transactions. The company expanded its operations by securing new licenses and deepening partnerships, while also reporting increased transaction volumes in key payment methods.
Flutterwave and Tempo Partner to Boost African Stablecoin Payments
Flutterwave and Tempo have partnered to integrate Tempo's blockchain network into Flutterwave's platforms, aiming to develop next-generation stablecoin infrastructure for African payments. This collaboration seeks to reduce high costs and lengthy delays in cross-border transactions, significantly improving financial efficiency across the continent.
dLocal acquires AZA Finance assets in $23.7 million deal
dLocal acquired specific assets from AZA Finance for $23.7 million, a scaled-back deal from its initial acquisition plans in June 2025. The transaction, settled through debt cancellation, gives dLocal key operations and customer relationships in Cameroon and the Francophone Central African region.
Paga Group Shifts Focus to Payments Infrastructure with Paga Engine
Paga Group is pivoting to payments infrastructure with its new Paga Engine, offering its technology to other businesses. This reflects a growing trend in African fintech where companies are focusing on providing backend solutions rather than just consumer-facing applications.
Nala secures $50 million credit line for stablecoin payment network expansion
Nala, a Tanzanian-founded fintech, has secured a $50 million credit line from Liquidity to expand its stablecoin-powered cross-border payment network. This funding will help Nala pre-fund transfers and expand its reach, addressing increased demand for faster business payments.
Interswitch partners Temenos to expand banking technology services in Africa
Interswitch has partnered with Temenos to offer managed banking services to financial institutions across Africa. This collaboration enables Interswitch to provide comprehensive banking technology solutions, targeting the modernization of legacy systems in key African markets.
Flutterwave Promotes 25% of Global Workforce as it Marks Ten Years
Flutterwave, the Nigerian payments fintech, has promoted over 100 employees globally and introduced support packages, including cost-of-living adjustments, as it marks its tenth year of operations. This initiative affects approximately 25% of its global workforce and follows the company's recent acquisition of a microfinance banking license.
Esca Finance Partners with MANSA for Same-Day African Payment Settlements
Esca Finance has partnered with MANSA to enable same-day payment settlements across key African corridors, utilizing stablecoin-backed infrastructure. This collaboration aims to enhance liquidity and accelerate cross-border transactions for businesses, reducing the need to pre-fund accounts in multiple markets.
Grey Business Processes $61.4 Million as Stablecoins Drive Payments
Grey Business processed $61.4 million in four months, with stablecoins becoming its largest payment channel for African businesses. This trend highlights the increasing use of digital assets for cross-border transactions to overcome traditional banking limitations.
African Fintech's Banking Gambit: A Calculated Leap, Not a Conquest
The strategic acquisition of banking licenses by major African fintechs is a pivotal shift. Its success hinges not on displacing traditional banks, but on executing complex risk management and fostering a more segmented, resilient financial ecosystem for the continent.
WhatsApp Banking in Africa: Promise Meets Pragmatism at a Crossroads
The emergence of WhatsApp banking in Africa presents both unprecedented opportunity and systemic risk. While 400 million African WhatsApp users signal massive potential, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure sovereignty remain critical challenges.