Experts Project Africa’s Fintech Sector Will Attract Global Investments in 2026 City, Country — Experts anticipate a significant shift in Africa’s fintech landscape, predicting that the continent will transition from seeking global investments to becoming a magnet for international capital by 2026. This projection was made by the African Fintech Summit (AFTS), a global initiative that focuses on advancing Africa’s Financial Technology (FinTech) ecosystem.
The Managing Director of AFTS, Zekarias Amsalu, was quoted by ThisDay, a Nigerian news website, as highlighting this transformative phase: “2026 will mark the transition from African fintech going global to becoming the globe itself.
” Amsalu emphasized the role of African founders, investors, and local infrastructure in driving this growth. He further explained that the continent is not just adopting global technologies but will increasingly be at the forefront of innovation, exporting solutions that attract global investors.
In 2025, Amsalu noted, Africa’s digital sector experienced a pivotal shift, with fintech companies prioritizing sustainable growth, efficiency, and profitability over rapid expansion.
This trend is supported by the Unipesa report, which indicates that African fintech is entering a new phase characterized by interoperability, embedded finance, data — driven lending models, and AI-powered personalization.
According to Unipesa, key trends shaping Africa’s fintech sector include interoperability, embedded finance, artificial intelligence, data-driven credit, regulatory evolution, and the rise of B2B and infrastructure fintechs.
Additionally, digital identity and blockchain integration, financial inclusion 2.
0, and the green technology movement are expected to play significant roles.
In 2025, African start-ups raised over $3 billion in disclosed funding, a 33 per cent year-on-year increase. This trend is exemplified by Flutterwave’s recent acquisition of Mono, an African open banking and account-based payments provider.
This acquisition aims to strengthen Flutterwave’s payments infrastructure and accelerate the growth of open banking in Africa.
Amsalu also revealed that regulators made strategic moves to support innovation in 2025, and local stock exchanges recorded five Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), including two from fintech companies. These developments underscore the growing importance of Africa’s fintech sector.
Looking ahead, Amsalu predicted that telecommunications companies will play a crucial role in supporting the growth of fintech in 2026 and beyond.
He also highlighted the expansion of African talent globally, predicting a surge in demand for global payroll and compliance services, driving further growth in local start — ups.
As the fintech sector evolves, the world’s largest fintech giants are increasingly making moves to capture a share of the African market.
PayPal’s plan to return to Africa in 2026 is a testament to this trend. Further details are expected as the African fintech sector continues to grow and evolve.
