Roqqu, a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the acquisition of Flitaa, a Kenya-based crypto startup, marking a significant step in its strategic expansion into East Africa. This acquisition provides Roqqu with immediate access to Kenya’s growing fintech ecosystem and represents its first operational footprint in the region.

Founded in 2019, Flitaa has built a presence across Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania, offering users a simplified platform to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. The startup has gained traction by focusing on user-friendly crypto transaction services, which have helped it establish a loyal customer base in multiple East African markets. While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Roqqu confirmed that Flitaa’s operations will be fully integrated into its platform.

Roqqu, which has also been operating since 2019, has grown without relying on external funding. The acquisition aligns with its broader vision of becoming a pan-African cryptocurrency platform, offering seamless digital asset services across the continent. The company also claims to have secured regulatory approval to operate in Kenya, although independent verification of this approval was not available at the time of reporting.

This move supports Roqqu’s mission to enhance crypto accessibility across Africa, particularly in regions where mobile money adoption is high and traditional banking infrastructure is limited. It also follows Roqqu’s earlier international expansion in 2022, when it obtained a virtual currency license in the European Economic Area (EEA), signaling its intent to serve both regional and global markets.

The acquisition of Flitaa is part of a broader trend of Nigerian tech startups expanding into East Africa, driven by the region’s relatively open regulatory environments and high digital adoption rates. For instance:

As Nigeria’s fintech sector matures, startups are increasingly looking beyond their home market for growth opportunities. East Africa, with its dynamic fintech landscape and widespread mobile money usage, presents an attractive destination. However, regional expansion is not without challenges—companies must navigate diverse regulatory frameworks, cultural differences, and varying user behaviors.

By acquiring Flitaa, Roqqu aims to bypass some of these early-stage hurdles by leveraging Flitaa’s existing infrastructure, regulatory groundwork, and customer relationships. This strategic move allows Roqqu to accelerate its market entry and scale more efficiently in East Africa.

The acquisition also comes at a time when African startups are facing tighter funding conditions. In March 2025, total startup funding across the continent dropped to $50 million, the lowest monthly figure in recent years. Despite this downturn, Nigeria and Kenya together accounted for nearly half of that total, reaffirming their central roles in Africa’s tech ecosystem.