Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are revolutionizing how payments and financial transactions are conducted worldwide, and Africa is no exception: “Crypto & Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa.”

With Africa’s limited traditional banking infrastructure, millions of people are excluded from financial services, leading to slow business and economic growth.

However, with the high rate of cryptocurrency adoption in many African countries, noticeable changes are taking place. People initially excluded from the financial system participate in digital transactions, making cross-border payments and investments, ultimately changing their lives and positively impacting the economy.

This article discusses different ways cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are shaping the future of payments in Africa.

Crypto and Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

How Cryptocurrency and Blockchain are Shaping the Future of Payments in Africa

Financial Inclusion and Access to Capital

Financial exclusion, that is, lack of access to capital and other financial services, is one of the major problems facing the African payment infrastructure. The World Bank reported in 2014 that over 350 million African adults had no bank account.

That number has decreased in recent years due to the success of mobile money programs. But a recent BPC fintech report shows there’s a lot more to be done, as it reported that 57% of Africans do not have access to any kind of bank account, including mobile money accounts.

This is where cryptocurrency and blockchain stepped in and are already contributing massively to the payment revolution in Africa. Cryptocurrency became popular in Africa in the heat of the COVID-19 period, recording an adoption rate of 1200% between 2020 and 2021.

Individuals initially excluded from the traditional financial systems are now actively participating in the crypto market with just their phone and internet connection. The availability of crypto ATMs and over-the-counter (OTC) markets where you can trade cryptocurrency and receive cash has made it possible for people in underserved communities to access financial services.

Cross-Border Payments

African countries engage massively in international trade within themselves and with other continents. Many small businesses in Africa export goods in different quantities and import them to resell or for production. However, traditional cross-border payments can be expensive and slow due to the fragmented financial landscape of the continent and the use of different currencies.

According to the World Bank, the average cost of sending $200 was 6.2% in Q4 2022, with mobile money being the cheapest at 4.5%. That’s between $9 and $12 in transfer fees for a payment of just $200. And it could be more, especially if the sender uses a traditional bank (11.8%) or a money transfer operator (5.4%). The cost could be quite unbearable when the exchange rate and preferred transfer speed are factored in.

Cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, ETH, BNB, and stablecoins, are facilitating borderless and cost-effective international money transfers, reducing the fees and time involved. Transferring cryptocurrency from one wallet to another is one of the cheapest ways to make cross-border payments or remittances, and transactions are completed in 24 hours or less. For example, the average cost of sending Bitcoin to another wallet is $4.05, while Ethereum costs $0.73 per transaction.

Store of Value

The inflation rate in most African countries is skyrocketing daily, eroding the value of their currencies and making imports and even internal purchases expensive. For example, in Nigeria, the dollar price in the parallel market went from N736 in January to N1300 in October 2023. That shows a 76.6% increase in the dollar’s value within ten months.

According to Business Insider Africa, many African countries are experiencing a prolonged period of high inflation. In the list, Zimbabwe stands top with an inflation rate of 101%. Others are Serra Leone (44.81%), Ghana (43.1%), Egypt (36.5%) and Ethiopia (28.8%). Nigeria, the largest African country, also made the list with an inflation rate of 24.08%.

The rising inflation in many African countries has led individuals and businesses to look for a reliable way to save money without losing value. Cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, have proven to be a good store of value and a reliable alternative for financial transactions.

Integration with Mobile Payments

Many Africans use mobile phones for payments and transactions, and cryptocurrencies can integrate seamlessly with mobile payment platforms, making it easy for people to transact with them.

Mobile payment platforms like Google Pay, BitPesa, Blockonomics, PayPal, and more allow users to make payments in cryptocurrencies for purchases on digital platforms.

People bypass many unnecessary fees by transacting in cryptocurrencies, especially when making purchases on international platforms. Many crypto-integrated mobile payment apps also allow users to save, invest, and perform other financial services with their smartphones.

Remittances

Remittances are a significant source of income for many African families. Africans working abroad love sending money to their families at home, either for their upkeep or investments.

The World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief shows how remittances grew in Sub-Saharan Africa by 6.1% in 2022, totaling $53 billion. Many countries had significant growth in their remittances, with Tanzania (25%), Rwanda (21%), and Uganda (17%) being the top three. Nigeria accounted for 38% of the total remittance inflows to the region despite having a growth rate of only 3.3%.

Many factors contributed to this remittance growth in Africa, including the low cost of cryptocurrency transactions and mobile money payments.

Conclusion

The adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is rapidly reshaping the African payment system, creating a future of massive financial inclusion, efficiency, economic development, and empowerment.

The advantages of these assets are clear, as individuals, businesses, and governments can benefit massively from them. Cryptocurrencies facilitate borderless and cost-effective cross-border payments, enable individuals and businesses to hedge against hyperinflation, and make mobile payments more efficient.

Despite already having significant success in Africa, its future impact is expected to be much more revolutionary. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology will open new opportunities for investment and trade and pave the way for a brighter economic future across the African continent. See More!

Challenges and Opportunities in African Payment Infrastructure

Africa is evolving massively in all areas, and the digital payment industry isn’t left out. Many digital payment systems have sprouted in the past and achieved tremendous success due to the enabling environment and the desire of Africans to join the formal financial system: “Challenges and Opportunities in African Payment Infrastructure.”

However, despite the success achieved, the African payment infrastructure still faces some challenges and has massive opportunities for growth. This article discusses these challenges and opportunities and how they affect individuals and businesses in the continent.

Challenges and Opportunities in African Payment Infrastructure

Challenges in African Payment Infrastructure

• Low Financial Inclusion

One of the major challenges of the African payment infrastructure is the low degree of financial inclusion. Many Africans, especially those in rural communities, lack access to modern financial services.

According to The Fintech Times, 57% of the population of Africa, around 95 million people, do not have a traditional bank account. This shows how many people are excluded from the formal financial system, limiting the strength of the African payment infrastructure.

With banks situated only in the major cities of most African countries, the difficulty in penetrating rural areas with financial solutions increases, causing people and businesses in these areas to still rely heavily on cash transactions.

• Cash Dominance

According to a 2017 United Nations report, about 90% of retail transactions in Sub-Saharan Africa are still cash-based. This means that cash still rules in Africa, which is risky due to the associated theft and fraud.

Furthermore, Africa’s reliance on cash is another reason behind the low degree of financial inclusion in the area. This cash dominance isn’t slowing down anytime soon because of the reluctance of the informal merchants, who form the majority, to deal with non-cash payment methods.

Handling and transporting cash can be expensive and logistically challenging, making digital payments more efficient and secure.

• Limited Infrastructure

Infrastructural limitations are part of the key challenges in the African payment system. Individuals and businesses lack affordable access to physical infrastructure, such as ATMs and POS terminals, and digital infrastructure, such as the internet, leading to the low adoption rate of digital payment systems in most regions.

According to Statista, only 43.2% of Africans have access to the internet, leaving a huge percentage of people without access to the digital payment system.

The lack of infrastructure or its limitations greatly limits the successful expansion of the digital payment infrastructure in Africa, as people and businesses in rural and underbanked communities are completely excluded.

• Regulatory Hurdles

Many African countries have strict regulatory policies affecting the payment infrastructure. Payment service providers often face challenges navigating these regulations when facilitating cross-border transactions, discouraging them from expanding their services to other African countries and denying many people access to the modern financial services they offer.

• Security Concerns

Security is another key challenge in the African payment system, as some companies lack the resources to provide high-level customer data protection. Customers fear falling victim to online scams or having their personal data in the wrong hands.

Worse still, less than 50% of companies in Africa are well-equipped to handle a large-scale cyberattack. In fact, a 2021 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report by Interpol shows that more than 90% of African businesses were operating without necessary cyber security protocols.

This shows that security is one of the biggest reasons the African payment infrastructure has not expanded to catch up with what’s obtainable in Europe and America.

Opportunities in African Payment Infrastructure

• Mobile Money Revolution

The success of mobile money services in some African countries like Kenya has led to its massive adoption in other African countries like Ghana and Nigeria. Mobile money is rapidly growing in the continent because of the difficulties people experience with traditional banking services and the increasing availability and affordability of technology.

With a total transaction value of over $800 billion in mobile money transactions, Africa tops the global mobile money usage chart.

The mobile money revolution presents a huge opportunity for developing the African payment infrastructure. Many previously unbanked individuals now have access to modern financial services, enabling them to access personal and business growth opportunities.

• Growing Middle Class

According to the African Development Bank, the number of middle-class Africans has tripled since the late eighties, exceeding 313 million people, and is expected to reach 1.1 billion by 2060.

The growing number of middle-class Africans presents a great opportunity for the growth of the African payment infrastructure. This is because an increase in the middle class means an increase in the number of people with more disposable income who are more likely to adopt electronic payment methods.

• Technological Development

As technologies evolve and new ones roll out, the payment system gets better and more widely adopted. Modern technologies like blockchain, AI, biometric authentication, etc., have led to the development of more efficient, accessible, and secure payment systems in Africa.

The African payment infrastructure has seen the development of digital payment solutions like mobile wallets, digital payment apps, and even contactless payment systems. This makes it easier for unbanked individuals to access financial services and reduce their dependence on cash.

• Financial Inclusion Initiatives

Many African governments are creating conducive environments for digital payment systems to thrive. By creating financial inclusion initiatives that drive the fast adoption of digital payment systems, they facilitate the expansion and reach of these payment services to the unbanked areas.

Financial inclusion initiatives strengthen the African payment infrastructure, ensuring people initially excluded from the financial system are integrated. With more people accessing financial services like savings, investments, and more, the payment system expands and the economy benefits.

• E-Commerce Growth

The growth of e-commerce in Africa creates opportunities for convenient and secure online transactions. According to Statista, e-commerce in Africa is projected to reach a market volume of $59.18 billion by 2027.

This massive growth in the volume of e-commerce transactions also results in a great volume of e-payments, further strengthening the African payment system.

Conclusion

The African payment infrastructure is faced with a myriad of challenges and opportunities. While key challenges such as low financial inclusion, cash dominance, regulatory complexity, and more persist, there are also many opportunities that, when harnessed, will reshape the financial ecosystem across the continent.

At Kora, our mission is to connect Africa to the world and connect the world to Africa via payments. For startups and businesses accepting money in and from Africa, we provide all the support you need to start, scale, and thrive on the continent. Visit korahq.com to see all the ways you can grow with Kora [korahQ].

African Payment Gateways: The Right Solution for Your Business

The African market is evolving as different payment gateways are emerging to facilitate seamless and secure transactions between customers and merchants. However, while the economy is fast-growing, only businesses smart enough to choose the right payment gateway solution can tap into the vast potential of the African market or strengthen their foothold in it: “African Payment Gateways: The Right Solution for Your Business.”

This article discusses different African payment gateways, why businesses must choose the right solution, and the important considerations they must make in the process.

What is a Payment Gateway?

A payment gateway is a technology solution that facilitates online and electronic transactions between merchants, customers, and financial institutions. It enables e-commerce and other online businesses to accept payments through credit and debit cards, digital wallets, payment links, and other electronic payment methods.

An efficient payment gateway securely processes payments, ensuring the customer’s account information is securely transmitted to the financial institution involved for authorization.

African Payment Gateways: The Right Solution for Your Business

What are the Benefits of Payment Gateway Solutions?

Payment gateway solutions offer many benefits to businesses looking to accept payments online. Here are some key reasons why a payment gateway solution is important for your online business:

Easy and Fast Transactions

Payment gateways make online transactions easy and fast, as customers only need to key in their card details, and in a few seconds, their payment is completed.

A rigorous payment process can deter customers from completing transactions initiated on your store, making you lose important sales. But with a faster payment system, your customers don’t need to wait long for their orders to be completed.

Fast and easy payments leave customers satisfied and increase their chances of returning for a future purchase.

Secure Transactions

The rate of online vendor scams in Africa has instilled fear in the minds of consumers, making them skeptical of online purchases. However, with a secure payment gateway, they’re sure their information will be encrypted during payment processing.

Furthermore, payment gateways guarantee accurate records of transactions, assuring customers of the possibility of resolving failed payment issues.

Global Reach

One of the perks of running an online business is expanding your customer base and selling to even those not physically within your location.

A good payment gateway can process payments from different parts of the world and in different currencies, enabling businesses to reach their international audience.

Acceptance of Multiple Payment Methods

Customers like to make payments using their preferred payment methods, mainly because of convenience and lower transaction costs. Payment gateways enable you to accept multiple payment methods, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, payment links, mobile money, and many more.

By offering different payment methods, you ensure you don’t miss out on important sales and don’t lose customers to your competitors.

Detailed Customer Analysis

Many payment gateways offer detailed transaction reports and analytics, providing valuable insights into customer behavior and payment trends. This informs your business strategies and enables you to structure your offers better.

With insights into payment trends, you can promote your products and services to capture different customer interests.

Customer Trust

Secure and recognized payment gateways make it easy for businesses to win the trust of potential customers.

Convincing a first-time customer to key in their card details and make a purchase online is difficult, especially when they’re used to cash payments or other “safer” means of payment. However, with a payment gateway with verifiable information online, it’s easier for anyone to part with their money.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Payment Gateway

Choosing a payment gateway is crucial for your business, as it can significantly impact its success or failure. Therefore, it’s essential that you consider the following factors to get the right solution suitable for your business and customers:

Security and Compliance

Security should be your top priority when choosing a payment gateway solution for your business. Ensure that the payment gateway you choose has security features, such as tokenization, encryption, and fraud detection, that protect customers from fraud.

You must also ensure the payment gateway is compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which is a set of security standards that protects credit and debit card data and transactions.

Accepted Payment Methods

Identify your target audiences’ preferred payment methods and ensure the payment gateway solution you choose supports them.

Many solutions support credit and debit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets, etc.; however, only a few, like Kora, support mobile money and payment links.

Currency Support

Another important consideration is the currency the payment gateway supports. Choosing a payment gateway that supports the currencies relevant to your business is essential.

Also, if you want to diversify into the international market, you must choose a payment gateway that supports multiple foreign currencies.

Geographic Coverage

Some payment gateways operate within specific regions, while others operate globally. You must ensure the payment gateway you choose operates within your customers’ locations or globally if you want to go international.

Integration Options

Some payment gateways offer application payment interfaces (APIs) that seamlessly integrate their solutions with your store, website, or mobile application. This is an important consideration you must make if you want your customers to have a great experience on your payment portals.

Transaction Fees and Pricing

You must consider your budgets and choose a solution that falls within them. Study and compare the fee structure of the different payment gateways you’re considering, including their setup, transaction, and monthly maintenance fees.

Customer Experience (mobile-friendly)

The goal of every business is to provide its customers with an amazing experience, and the payment gateway you choose contributes immensely to that goal.

Compare the user interfaces of the different payment gateways you’re considering and settle for the one that offers your customers the best experience.

Furthermore, most of your customers access your website through their mobile phones. Therefore, choosing a mobile-friendly payment gateway solution for your business is important.

Top 3 African Payment Gateways to Help Grow Your Business

Here are the top five African payment gateways you can choose for your business:

Kora

Kora is a powerful payment gateway solution designed to simplify payments and power a future void of digital financial barriers in Africa. It enables businesses to accept customer payments and pay other merchants within and outside Africa.

Founded in 2017, Kora has become a household name among businesses in Nigeria and other African countries. Its products stand out among other payment gateway solutions. Here are the products or offerings you can enjoy from Kora:

• Pay-ins: This enables you to accept payments through various methods, including card payments, bank transfers, direct debits, mobile money, payment links and more. You can accept payments in any currency from anywhere in the world.
• Payouts: This enables you to pay your suppliers, partners, or other merchants within and outside the continent using the Kora payout API or dashboard.
• Payment Links: This enables you to receive payments without owning a website. You simply have to create and customize your payment link on the Kora platform, then share it with your customers and start receiving payments.
• Settlements: Collect payments from your customers in your local currency, irrespective of the currency they paid with. You can also receive your settlement in your Kora balance or your registered bank account at your convenience.

Kora [KorahQ] is specifically designed to simplify payments for you and your customers. Its support system is one of its core advantages over other platforms because Kora provides you with all the support you need from when you sign up to when you get settled.

PayStack

• Paystack (now part of Stripe) is another African payment gateway that enables you to securely accept payments from customers in and outside Africa. It enables you to receive payments in any currency from anyone, anywhere in the world.
• Receiving payments from your customers is easy and straightforward with PayStack, as they can pay with their preferred payment methods. Paystack [see] supports card payments, bank accounts, transfers, USSD, Apple Pay, Visa QR, Mobile Money, and POS.
• The payment gateway’s data reporting is one of the most robust among African payment gateways. A study of the detailed reports will give you valuable insights into your customers’ purchase patterns and other valuable information you might need.

FlutterWave

• FlutterWave is definitely one of the best African payment gateways. It allows you to easily receive payments from anyone, anywhere in the world.
• Businesses can receive payments in over 30 currencies and get settled in their local currency. With over 15 payment options, including debit and credit cards, mobile money, bank accounts, POS, bank transfers, USSD, and more, customers have a myriad of options available when making payments to you.
• FlutterWave’s [see] well-documented and easy-to-use APIs make it easy for you to integrate multiple payment functionalities into your business without having to do much coding.

Conclusion

An efficient and reliable payment gateway contributes significantly to your success as an online business, as it enables you to receive money, make payments, make sales, and keep your customers satisfied and happy.

A reliable payment gateway is crucial for online business success. It allows you to receive payments, make sales, and keep customers satisfied.

Choosing the right payment gateway solution for your business is essential to enjoying the full benefits listed in this article. Hopefully, this guide has given you insights on what to consider when choosing the right solution for your business.