Mobile money transactions in Africa continue their remarkable growth trajectory, with $1.4 trillion changing hands across the continent in 2025 alone—representing 66% of global transaction value. Visa executives at this year’s Africa CEO Forum emphasized that this pace is unprecedented compared to other regions.

“The speed and scale at which digital payments are expanding in Africa is truly remarkable,” said Michael Berner, Head of South and East Africa for Visa. “We’re seeing changes happen in just two or three years that would have taken a decade elsewhere.”

Visa has committed $1 billion to the African market over five years, including opening its first data center on the continent last year in Johannesburg. This investment reflects Visa’s view of Africa as a high-growth opportunity where digital payments are rapidly replacing cash transactions.

One particularly promising development is the potential for stablecoins—digital assets pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar—to facilitate cross-border payments and financial inclusion. Berner noted that Visa plans to launch pilot programs using stablecoins for bank settlements “very, very soon.” This aligns with broader industry trends:

  • Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech unicorn, partnered with Polygon for stablecoin-powered international payments
  • Tether, the world’s largest digital asset firm, invested in LemFi, a remittance startup founded in Nigeria

Visa executives also acknowledged the increasing focus on local payment infrastructure by African governments. While recognizing this trend, they emphasized Visa’s willingness to partner and provide expertise while respecting national priorities.

“We’re always open to collaboration,” Berner stated. “Our goal is to enhance existing systems with our technology—particularly in areas like fraud prevention where we have deep experience from operating globally for over 60 years.”

The company sees its role as facilitating access to the financial ecosystem for businesses of all sizes, enabling them to accept digital payments and grow their customer base. Visa’s investments in data infrastructure and partnerships with fintech innovators aim to accelerate this transformation across Africa.