Africa’s Largest Payment Network Taps USDC To Revolutionize Cross-Border Payments
Onafriq, one of Africa’s largest payments infrastructure providers, is partnering with Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, to revamp cross-border payment systems across the continent.
The pilot will see USDC being used for settlements within Onafriq’s expansive network, which covers over 40 African countries and connects more than 500 million mobile wallets and 200 million bank accounts.
Read more: https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/africa-largest-network-usdc-revolutionize-cross-border-payments/
Scaling Fintech In Africa: What’s Next?
We might describe the past decade in fintech as a three-legged journey, and it can be instructional if we as to what need fixing and also what might await us around the corner.
The decade began with heated debates about whether fintechs would disrupt traditional banks, transitioned into discussions about fintech-bank partnerships, and ended with a sharper focus on unit economics, profitability, and concerns over the dearth of exits in Africa. Despite some early concerns about client protection and pricing, the overall consumer and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) story has been a positive one.
Read more: https://techfinancials.co.za/2025/04/30/scaling-fintech-in-africa-whats-next/
Lesaka fintech solutions win big at Absa awards
Nasdaq- and JSE-listed Lesaka Technologies’ subsidiaries Kazang and Connect were recognised as fintech innovators in South Africa’s bustling fintech universe at the recent Absa Commercial Payments Awards 2025. Cash Connect won the “Most Progressive Device Cash Solutions Provider” category, with Kazang winning the “Most Disruptive Fintech Shaping Financial Inclusion Vision”.
Steven Heilbron, head of M&A and corporate development at Lesaka, said: “We have always seen ourselves as innovators and disruptors with our holistic merchant solutions in both cash and digital, and to be recognised as such in both formal and informal market offerings is extremely encouraging.”
Read more: https://techcentral.co.za/lesaka-fintech-solutions-absa-awards-2025/262941/
5 tips to start taking digital payments as a business in Africa
From Lagos to Kenya and the US, businesses are recognising that embracing digital methods is essential for growth.
A Mastercard-commissioned report forecasts Africa’s digital payments market will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, fueled by increased mobile phone usage and e-commerce. While cash is still common, mobile money is on the rise.
Zabira is simplifying this transition for SMEs, freelancers, and online merchants. In August 2019, the company launched Zabira to innovate Nigeria’s cashless transaction market, offering services like crypto trading and utility payments.
Equals and Railsr Join Forces to Spread Power of Embedded Finance Across Europe
To empower multi-geographical businesses and direct-to-consumer brands, the consortium of funds managed by TowerBrook Capital Partners, funds managed by J.C. Flowers & Co., and Railsr shareholders, has completed its acquisition of Railsr — marking the official combination of two fintech innovators: Equals Money and Railsr.
The new group will combine Equals Money’s leadership in multi-currency accounts, FX, corporate cards, and financial solutions with Railsr’s embedded finance, BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service), and CaaS (Cards-as-a-Service) infrastructure, offering businesses a way to embed financial services into their products, enabling them to launch, scale, and operate globally confidently.
UK Post Office and banks ink new cash access deal
In 2017, with ATMs and bank branches being closed across the country, ‘The Banking Framework‘ was established, enabling customers of 30 banks and building societies to withdraw and deposit cash, make balance queries and deposit cheques at their local Post Office.
Since January 2020, business and personal customers have completed over 760 million transactions in branches across the UK.
Read more: https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/45902/uk-post-office-and-banks-ink-new-cash-access-deal
Circle taps Onafriq to cut Africa’s cross-border payment costs with USDC
Stablecoin issuer Circle has partnered with Onafriq, Africa’s largest payments gateway, to reduce the high cost of cross-border payments across the continent using USDC.
According to a press release shared with Cointelegraph, Circle aims to pilot USDC settlements within Onafriq’s vast network, which connects over 500 wallets and 200 million bank accounts in more than 40 countries.
“By integrating USDC, we aim to simplify financial transactions for institutions and individuals, reduce costs and strengthen trust,” Onafriq founder and CEO Dare Okoudjou said.
Read more: https://cointelegraph.com/news/circle-onafriq-partner-to-cut-africa-payment-costs-with-usdc
