Visa Highlights Growing Digital Payments Landscape in Africa

Speaking at the recent Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Michael Berner, Head of South and East Africa at Visa, emphasized the unprecedented growth rate of digital payments across the continent. He noted that Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for $1.4 trillion in mobile money transactions in 2025—representing 66% of global activity.

“The speed and pace at which digital payments are growing in Africa is truly remarkable,” Berner stated. “We’re seeing changes happening much faster here than anywhere else in the world.”

Strategic Investments in African Infrastructure

Visa has committed $1 billion to expand its presence across Africa over five years, including the recent opening of its first data center outside traditional hubs like the US and Europe. The Johannesburg-based facility represents a significant investment in local infrastructure and underscores Visa’s long-term commitment to the region.

Stablecoins as Key Payment Solution

Berner highlighted stablecoins as having particular promise for Africa’s payments future, noting that pilot programs for crypto-based settlements between banks are expected “very soon.” This aligns with broader industry trends like Flutterwave’s partnership with Polygon and Tether’s investment in LemFi.

“Stablecoins specifically could be pretty big here,” he said. “We see real potential for them to address key challenges in cross-border payments and financial inclusion.”

Addressing Fragmentation Through Collaboration

With Africa’s diverse regulatory environments and payment ecosystems, Visa is focusing on providing universal access to digital financial services through partnerships with banks, fintech companies, and local businesses. This approach aims to build a more interconnected payments infrastructure that supports economic growth across the continent.