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Africa’s Fintech Revenue Projected to Hit $30 Billion by 2025

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A report by McKinsey and Company, a global management consulting firm, has projected that Africa’s Fintech revenue could hit $30 billion by 2025.

Analysts at the company predict that African Fintech companies could see their revenue jump to about $230 billion by 2025. Regarded as one of the fastest growing industries in Africa, with five out of the seven unicorns on the continent being fintech companies, the Fintech industry is reported to have a significant impact on the day-to-day life on the continent.

The significant growth of companies in the industry is reportedly fueled by several trends such as affordable internet, increasing smartphone ownership, fast-growing rapidly urbanizing population, and expanded network coverage.

In 2020, the industry generated approximately $3.8 billion, in 2021 it raised over $13 billion. The sector secured $1.45 billion in funding for 2022, a 39.3 percent increase from the previous year.

In a bid to achieve sustainable growth, analysts at McKinsey & Company say companies that have a long history of operating on the African continent have built their success on rapid customer acquisition. The company further disclosed that the growth opportunity in fintech is likely to be concentrated in 11 key markets such as Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda, which altogether account for 70% of Africa’s GDP and half of its population.

It is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated existing trends toward digitalization and created a fertile environment for new technology players, even as it caused significant hardship and disrupted lives and livelihoods across the continent. With the industry’s upward trend, analysts predict that it can be perfectly poised to rapidly advance Africa’s global competitiveness with an increase in the exporting of Fintech services globally.

According to the analysis, economies with more mature financial systems and digital infrastructures, such as South Africa and Nigeria, are likely to see more innovation in advanced financial services, including business-to-business (B2B) liquidity and regulatory technology such as anti-money laundering and know-your-customer (KYC) compliance.

Investors King understands that Africa’s Fintech industry will continue on an upward trajectory, owing to the fact that a sizable part of Africans are still unbanked, and numerous fintech are working to address this issue and access the market.

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Fintech

Fintechs Instructed to Report Cryptocurrency Transactions to Authorities in Nigeria

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Fintech companies across the country have been instructed to report all crypto trades to relevant authorities.

This directive comes amidst the recent freezing of 105 accounts across nine fintech firms suspected of various illegal activities, including unauthorized forex dealings, money laundering, and terrorism financing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an interim court order on April 24, 2024, to freeze these accounts for 90 days as part of ongoing investigations.

Sources close to the matter suggest a connection between these freezes and heightened scrutiny of cryptocurrency transactions.

Following these regulatory actions, several prominent fintech players, including OPay, Moniepoint, PalmPay, and Kuda Bank, have been directed to suspend the opening of new accounts temporarily pending evaluations of their Know Your Customer (KYC) processes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The frozen accounts are part of a broader investigation by the EFCC into 1,146 bank accounts suspected of manipulating the foreign exchange market through cryptocurrency platforms.

The EFCC believes that some account owners exploited cryptocurrency platforms to manipulate the FX market.

In response to these developments, fintech firms have started implementing stringent measures against cryptocurrency transactions.

Moniepoint, for instance, notified its customers that it would close accounts engaged in crypto or virtual asset transactions and share their details with relevant authorities.

Similar warnings were issued by other fintech players like Paga and OPay, emphasizing their stance against crypto-related activities.

During a recent industry event, Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and CEO of Moniepoint, urged participants in crypto Peer-to-Peer (P2P) markets to cease their activities due to regulatory prohibitions.

He highlighted the risks associated with engaging in such activities, citing potential legal repercussions.

Eniolorunda linked the recent regulatory actions to the prevalence of fraud in fintech apps and emphasized the renewed focus on KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures.

He alleged that some P2P crypto activities contributed to the manipulation of the Nigerian currency, the naira, prompting regulatory intervention.

This latest directive underscores Nigeria’s broader crackdown on cryptocurrency platforms, particularly Binance, which began earlier in 2024.

The government has expressed concerns about the role of crypto platforms in currency speculation and their impact on the devaluation of the naira.

This regulatory tightening reflects the government’s efforts to maintain financial stability and curb illicit financial activities in the country.

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Nigeria’s OPay Valuation Hits $2.7 Billion Amid Digital Payments Surge

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Opay

Nigeria’s OPay, the fintech startup that has been making waves in the country’s digital payments landscape, has seen its valuation soar to $2.7 billion.

This represents over 30% since its Series C funding round in 2021.

This surge in valuation shows the exponential growth of Nigeria’s digital payments sector and the increasing prominence of financial technology companies within the nation’s economy.

The valuation update comes from recent corporate filings made by Opera, an early investor in OPay. Opera’s stake in OPay gradually declined over the years to 6.4% by 2021.

However, a strategic move in early 2023 saw Opera increase its stake to 9.4% after selling its Asian fintech subsidiary, Nanobank, to OPay in exchange for equity in the company.

According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Opera valued its 9.4% stake in OPay at $253 million, reflecting the $2.7 billion valuation of the fintech startup.

OPay’s meteoric rise can be attributed to several factors, including Nigeria’s increasing adoption of digital payments and the company’s innovative services.

The surge in digital payments volumes, driven in part by an ill-timed currency redesign that led to cash scarcity, has propelled OPay’s growth.

As more Nigerians turned to fintech apps like OPay for transactions, the company experienced a quadrupling of its user base in 2023, accompanied by a revenue growth of over 60% on a constant currency basis, according to Opera.

Despite its rapid growth, OPay, like other fintech companies, faces challenges related to fraud and customer safety concerns.

Regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, have tightened rules on account safety, highlighting the need for OPay and similar companies to address these issues while continuing to innovate and expand their services.

As Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem continues to evolve, OPay’s rising valuation underscores its position as a key player in driving financial inclusion and transforming the country’s economy through innovative technology solutions.

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From Trading to Credit: Robinhood Launches No-Fee Credit Card with Gold Membership Perks

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Robinhood

Robinhood Markets Inc. has announced the launch of its highly anticipated no-fee credit card and it was accompanied by exclusive perks for Gold membership subscribers.

This bold move is a step in the company’s mission to evolve into a comprehensive financial services provider.

The Robinhood Gold Card boasts an array of enticing features. Chief among them is the absence of annual costs or foreign transaction fees, positioning it as an attractive option for consumers seeking financial flexibility.

Moreover, cardholders stand to benefit from a generous 3% cash back on all categories of purchases, a competitive offer in comparison to industry rivals.

Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and industry leadership in an interview.

He expressed the intention to not merely introduce a credit card, but to revolutionize the market with a product that sets new standards for customer satisfaction and financial empowerment.

The announcement has sparked enthusiasm among investors, with Robinhood’s shares witnessing a 6.9% surge in early market trading following the news.

This surge further underscores the market’s confidence in the company’s strategic direction and its potential to disrupt traditional financial services.

Beyond the credit card venture, Robinhood has been steadily diversifying its offerings. With the introduction of retirement products and the expansion of commission-free trading services internationally, the company is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global finance landscape.

As Robinhood continues to innovate and expand its suite of services, its trajectory suggests a promising future as a leading force in democratizing access to financial tools and services.

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