Acknowledging Africa's significant role in the global business landscape, Ripple aims to leverage the remarkable growth in the African fintech sector, particularly in the realm of payments. Analysis indicates that financial services revenue in Africa is poised to reach $230 billion within the next two years, propelled by the increasing adoption of fintech, a growing base of mobile phone users, and a rising interest in digital banking.
The partnership between Ripple and Onafriq specifically focuses on addressing common issues in cross-border money transfers, including high fees, slow settlement times, and limited access to traditional bank branches. Onafriq, with its extensive reach connecting hundreds of millions of mobile wallets across much of Africa and operating payment corridors, plays a crucial role in facilitating financial inclusion.
This collaboration has the potential to deliver tangible benefits to the entire African region, aligning with Ripple's strategic vision for the promising $2.7 trillion market. As Africa strengthens its position in the global economy, financial institutions have an opportunity to explore new revenue streams by participating in the region's rapid growth. Leading countries in the African fintech revolution include South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Egypt. Notably, in Nigeria, where mobile phone ownership is high but credit card usage remains low, there exists a significant market gap for the financial services industry to address.