Africa's Mobile Money Hits $1.4T as Crypto Integration Accelerates

Global mobile money transactions reached $2 trillion in 2025, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for $1.4 trillion (66% of total), according to GSMA's State of the Industry Report. Visa, four years into its five-year, $1 billion Africa commitment, opened its first Africa data center in Johannesburg last July, investing over $57 million as it expands digital payment infrastructure across the continent.

The unprecedented growth rate—faster than anywhere else globally—coincides with major blockchain developments. Nigerian fintech Flutterwave partnered with Polygon for stablecoin-powered cross-border payments, while Tether invested in Nigerian-founded LemFi remittance startup. Visa's Michael Berner confirmed stablecoins could be 'pretty big' for Africa, with crypto-based bank settlement pilots coming 'very, very soon.'

African governments increasingly push for domestic payment infrastructure, though Visa emphasizes partnership over replacement. The cashless future accelerates as Gen Z and Gen Alpha expect seamless payments everywhere. As digital transformation reshapes Africa's financial landscape, talent development emerges as critical for continued growth.

How will your business adapt to Africa's accelerating cashless economy and emerging crypto payment systems?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/05/22/visa-on-stablecoins-and-payments-in-africa/