Africa Fintech Spotlight

Access Bank Nigeria partners Integral to boost FX trading capabilities

Through the collaboration, Access Bank, which operates over 600 branches throughout Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa and the UK, has adopted the Californian vendor’s pricing, distribution, liquidity aggregation and white labelling solutions.

This latter selection will enable the bank to lay the foundations for the sub-white labelling of its own services to other entities and affiliate banks, a capability Integral describes as “a crucial aspect of the collaboration”.

On top of this, the tech will also allow Access Bank to offer partners a branded graphical user interface (GUI), “allowing them to trade directly via a customizable, branded platform”.

Read more: https://www.fintechfutures.com/2025/02/access-bank-nigeria-partners-integral-to-boost-fx-trading-capabilities/?

StarkWare Unveils $4M Fund to Boost Blockchain Startups in Africa

StarkWare has launched a $4 million venture fund to support blockchain startups in Africa, aiming to drive crypto adoption across the continent.

Led by entrepreneur and investor Kheireddine Kamal, the fund will focus on early-stage startups, particularly at the pre-seed and seed levels. It will prioritize projects leveraging Starknet, a zero-knowledge rollup designed to scale Ethereum.

Read more: https://techafricanews.com/2025/02/06/starkware-unveils-4m-fund-to-boost-blockchain-startups-in-africa/?

WATCH | Innovate Africa: Chapa Payments is simplifying transactions and capturing East Africa’s market

In the fast-evolving African fintech landscape Chapa Payments is emerging as a game-changer with its mission to streamline digital transactions.

The Ethiopian-based platform launched its API (Application Programming Interface), designed to make integrations seamless for businesses, prioritising simplicity and effectiveness.?

By enabling secure, instant payments across multiple channels — from mobile money to card payments — Chapa aims to eliminate friction for merchants and consumers. Chapa’s strategy hinges on first dominating the East African market, where fragmented payment systems and high mobile money usage present challenges and opportunities.?

Read more: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/sci-tech/2025-02-06-watch-innovate-africa-chapa-payments-is-simplifying-transactions-and-capturing-east-africas-market/#google_vignette?

Alldigi Tech, LuLu Financial Holdings partner to revolutionise payroll, HRMS solutions for SMEs

Qatar - The partnership aims to redefine payroll and HRMS services in the MEA region by delivering integrated, technology-driven solutions tailored to the diverse needs of LuLuFin’s extensive customer base.

Quess Corp’s subsidiary, Alldigi Tech Limited (formerly Allsec Technologies Limited), a leading provider of Payroll and HRMS solutions processing over 1.5mn payslips monthly, has entered into a strategic collaboration with LuLu Financial Holdings, a UAE-based global financial services conglomerate. This partnership aims to redefine payroll and HRMS services in the MEA region by delivering integrated, technology-driven solutions tailored to the diverse needs of LuLuFin’s extensive customer base.

Read more: https://zawya.com/en/business/fintech/alldigi-tech-lulu-financial-holdings-partner-to-revolutionise-payroll-hrms-solutions-for-smes-dumztrs9?

Australia's banks urge Parliament to regulate mobile wallets

According to the Reserve bank of Australia, each month citizens are now making over 500 million payments with mobile wallets worth over $20 billion.

The Australian Treasury has proposed far-reaching reforms that will widen the regulatory net to incorporate a new wave of products and services that are making the running in the digital economy. The aim is to amend the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998 to update the definition of ‘payment’ and ‘payments systems’ to capture new methods.

The Australia Banking Association says new legislation will give the RBA powers to regulate all players within the payments system including Apple and Google, to create a level playing field with non-bank competitors.

Read more: https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/45454/australias-banks-urge-parliament-to-regulate-mobile-wallets?

World Bank’s IFC and Equity Bank Launch KSh 2.5Bn Risk Sharing Deal

Equity Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have launched a $20 million (KSh 2.5 billion) Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) to enhance unsecured microlending among underserved communities, especially refugees and their host communities.

• The programme targets 14 marginalized counties across Kenya, among them Turkana and Garissa which host Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.
• With a significant portion of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya lacking access to vital financial services – studies show unmet demand for finance is as high as 83%.
• RSFs are bilateral loss-sharing agreements between IFC and an originator where the former reimburses the latter for a portion of the principal assets incurred.

Read more: https://kenyanwallstreet.com/world-banks-ifc-and-equity-bank-launch-ksh-2-5bn-risk-sharing-deal/