Africa’s financial technology sector is poised to be a key engine of economic growth and inclusion in 2026, building on strong capital flows in 2025 and transformative innovations that are reshaping how people and businesses access financial services across the continent.
Fintech dominated Africa’s startup funding landscape in 2025, with companies raising an estimated $640 million in the first half alone as investors poured capital into digital payments, cross-border transfers, and lending platforms.
Fintech accounted for about 45% of all startup funding across the continent during that period, outpacing other sectors such as health tech and logistics. While funding totalled nearly $3 billion in 2023, funding in 2025 is estimated to exceed it.
The momentum has continued into the latter part of the year, with Nigeria’s Moniepoint closing a Series C round exceeding $200 million, underlining investors’ confidence in fintech solutions that improve access to credit and payments for underserved populations.
Yet it is not just funding that is shaping Africa’s fintech story. The rise of collaborative ecosystems that connect regulators, traditional banks, telcos, and startups is enabling more sustainable growth and expanding services beyond conventional banking corridors.
Fintech driving financial inclusion and economic participation
At the heart of Africa’s fintech opportunity is financial inclusion. Over half of the world’s mobile money accounts are now held in Sub-Saharan Africa, a testament to the continent’s leapfrogging of legacy banking infrastructure through mobile technology.
Mobile money and digital wallets are providing first-time access to financial services for millions of Africans, especially in rural areas where traditional banks rarely operate.
This is not only expanding economic participation but also helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) scale by giving them access to payment systems, credit, and savings tools that were previously out of reach.
In countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, regulatory sandboxes and open banking frameworks are further catalysing innovation and consumer protection while driving inclusion strategies.
Cross-border payment solutions such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are laying the groundwork for integrated digital finance across regional markets, potentially reducing costs and enabling seamless transactions across Africa’s diverse currency zones.
Still, challenges remain: Sub-Saharan Africa continues to have some of the highest remittance costs globally, creating friction for diaspora funds that many families rely on.
Fintech’s innovation landscape and future pathways
Africa’s fintech innovation landscape is rapidly maturing, moving beyond basic mobile payments to more sophisticated offerings such as embedded finance, AI-driven credit scoring, and blockchain infrastructure – all designed to enhance access, affordability, and efficiency.
Embedded finance – the integration of financial services directly into non-financial platforms – is expected to reshape how micro and small businesses access credit, insurance, and payments. This could be particularly transformative for informal sectors that dominate African economies.
AI and alternative data are redefining credit assessment, allowing lenders to extend financial products to individuals without formal credit histories by analysing digital footprints such as mobile transactions and e-commerce behaviour.
Blockchain and tokenised assets also hold promise for improving transparency and enabling new forms of investment and savings products, particularly for populations historically excluded from formal markets.
Even amid tighter global capital, African fintechs are prioritising sustainability and cybersecurity, focusing on unit profitability and regulatory compliance to build investor confidence and protect users in an increasingly digital financial environment.
Which African countries could stand out in 2026?
Based on current trends in investment, regulatory reforms, and tech adoption, several countries are positioned to lead Africa’s fintech renaissance in 2026:
Nigeria remains a powerhouse with Lagos at the epicentre of fintech activity – home to hundreds of startups and major funding rounds – and innovations such as domestic payment schemes that enhance local financial ecosystems.
Kenya continues to capitalise on its pioneering mobile money infrastructure, which underpins fintech growth from Nairobi to rural centres and sets benchmarks for digital finance across East Africa.
South Africa combines advanced financial infrastructure with global investment, highlighted by moves such as Visa’s new data centre investment, reinforcing its role as a digital payments hub.
Egypt, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire are also emerging as dynamic fintech hubs, with funding and startup growth accelerating – particularly in digital banking, APIs, and cross-border solutions.
Governments across the continent are embedding fintech in national economic strategies. Ethiopia’s Digital Ethiopia 2030 blueprint explicitly links digital access and financial services with economic inclusion and growth, demonstrating how policy can elevate fintech’s role in national development.
Analysts project Africa’s digital finance sector could generate tens of billions in revenue by 2030, underpinned by mobile payments, lending platforms, and interoperable digital systems.
By expanding financial access to billions previously excluded from formal systems, fintech is unlocking consumer spending, SME growth, and cross-border commerce.
As Africa embraces financial technology as both an economic and social imperative, its success in 2026 will hinge on collaborative innovation, supportive regulation, and sustainable investment that truly closes the financial inclusion gap.
