Fintech

Two major fintech moves signal deeper integration of financial services into everyday digital platforms across West Africa, targeting gig workers and payment users.

Safaricom is hiding customer phone numbers in M-PESA transaction alerts to combat scammers who pose as agents, while Nigeria's central bank warns users never to share banking credentials.

Lipaworld, a South African startup founded by immigrants who experienced the cost of cross-border transactions firsthand, has launched a stablecoin-powered Visa card targeting Africa's unbanked populations.

Two startups secure major funding rounds for AI networking and cross-border commerce infrastructure, while venture capital firms report strong portfolio performance across the continent.

Kenya's KCB Group reported $530 million net profit for 2025 driven by National Bank of Kenya divestiture, while Nigerian fintech PalmPay expands physical presence amid tightening Central Bank oversight.

Kenya's largest bank is moving into digital payments infrastructure while a Nigerian initiative trains 200 girls in coding, highlighting Africa's push to expand both fintech services and tech talent pipelines.

Kenya's revenue authority is equipping field officers with body cameras to combat tax evasion, while German industrial supplier Würth announced it will close its Kenyan operations after nearly three decades.

French AI startup AMI raises $1 billion while African governments deploy surveillance tech and banks expand digital ID services, even as the Kimwolf botnet targets the continent's Android users.

Nigerian fintech Smartcash has eliminated transaction fees on transfers and bill payments targeting unbanked populations, while Elon Musk announced X Money will enter early public access in April 2026.

Bukola Alawiye and Busola Oluwatobi's transitions from corporate communications and oil and gas into fintech leadership at Redtech illuminate how mentorship and continuous learning are reshaping gender dynamics in Africa's technology sector.

The payment orchestrator will expand across Africa to help online businesses coordinate multiple payment providers through a single integration, addressing the continent's persistent transaction failure rates.

From fintech seed rounds to SOC 2 certifications, African technology companies are demonstrating operational maturity while new graduate programmes address the continent's skills shortage.

Nosh pivots from digital payments into global connectivity with eSIM service across 136 countries, while Nigeria's TermFund launches platform to finance school fees for families facing upfront payment pressures.

Major institutional investors are acquiring data centre assets across South Africa whilst AI-focused venture capital emerges, signalling deepening confidence in the continent's technology fundamentals even as consumer electronics brands consolidate market positions.

South Africa's TymeBank exits Pick n Pay stores while new data reveals declining female leadership in funded ventures, exposing fault lines in the continent's maturing tech ecosystem.