Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network, is marking a significant 15-year anniversary with the announcement of a remarkable achievement: its infrastructure now connects close to 1 billion mobile money wallets and 500 million bank accounts across the continent. This milestone highlights Onafriq's pivotal role in shaping Africa's burgeoning digital financial landscape.

The company's journey began 15 years ago with a bold ambition to connect Africa’s mobile money systems and diminish the significance of borders in financial transactions. What started as a mobile money switch and an interoperability solution has profoundly transformed. Onafriq has evolved into a comprehensive omnichannel payments network, developing a pan-African infrastructure layer in lockstep with the continent’s rapid digital evolution.

At its core, Onafriq provides crucial digital interoperability across diverse payment channels, including mobile wallets, bank accounts, cards, and offline payment systems. The network facilitates a wide array of services such as cross-border disbursements, collections, card issuance and processing, offline agent banking services, and sophisticated FX & treasury services, thereby bringing Africa closer to a seamless and integrated financial future.

Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO of Onafriq, expressed the company's unwavering commitment: “We remain fully committed to connecting every individual and business in Africa with each other and the world. Fifteen years ago, we set out with a bold ambition: to connect Africa’s mobile money systems and make borders matter less. What we’ve built since then is more than a network – it’s a pan-African infrastructure layer that has evolved in lockstep with the continent’s digital evolution. From mobile money to bank accounts, from remittances to real-time trade – we’ve grown as Africa has grown. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and even more excited about the road ahead.”

Today, Onafriq's robust network infrastructure connects an impressive 961 million registered mobile wallets and 464 million registered bank accounts. Furthermore, it supports more than 2,000 cross-border payment corridors. This extensive reach has facilitated access and usage across the continent, enabling everyone from rural beneficiaries of social payments to global fintechs operating in Africa to utilize its services.

As Onafriq embarks on its next chapter, the company is increasingly focused on developing infrastructure with greater local relevance while maintaining the significant scale of its pan-African operations. This strategic approach aims to create more tailored financial solutions that address specific local market needs.

Nigeria serves as a prime example of this localized strategy. Onafriq is developing a unique payments stack for the Nigerian market, designed to combine the strength of its extensive cross-border network with the specific regulatory and foreign exchange realities of one of Africa’s most dynamic economies. By building infrastructure that reflects local context, Onafriq aims to enable more relevant use cases and foster an ecosystem where financial usage is active, sustained, and impactful.

Looking towards future advancements, Onafriq is actively exploring the integration of blockchain infrastructure and stablecoins. This initiative is geared towards facilitating near-instant, programmable payments, which represents a crucial step towards achieving real-time, interoperable trade across various African currencies.

These technological innovations align strategically with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Onafriq’s efforts are designed to help Africa bypass outdated payment systems, leapfrogging towards a modern, mobile-first financial ecosystem that supports continental economic integration.

Onafriq’s 15-year journey and its achievements signify more than just corporate growth; they represent substantial progress towards African financial inclusion and economic integration. By connecting vast numbers of mobile wallets and bank accounts, the company has created vital infrastructure that allows previously underserved populations to participate in the formal financial system. The expansive network of cross-border payment corridors further facilitates trade and remittances, supporting economic development by reducing traditional barriers to intra-African commerce.

With extensive experience, a wide operational reach, and a proven track record of execution, Onafriq remains dedicated to building a payment infrastructure that unlocks prosperity, both across African borders and within local communities. The company’s 15-year milestone serves as a solid foundation for continued innovation and expansion, as it continues to drive financial inclusion and economic development across Africa through its sophisticated approach combining pan-African scale with local depth.