The African Fintech Summit has released its 2026 outlook, predicting a significant shift in the continent’s financial technology ecosystem. According to Zekarias Amsalu, Managing Director of the African Fintech Summit, African fintechs will transition from seeking global investments to becoming a hub that attracts global investments, driven by African founders, capital, talent, and infrastructure.
This prediction is based on the progress made in 2025, which saw African fintechs prioritize sustainable growth and profitability over rapid scaling. Regulators made supportive moves, and local exchanges witnessed five Initial Public Offers, including two from fintech companies. African startups raised over $3 billion in disclosed funding, a 33% year-on-year increase.
Amsalu’s prediction is already manifesting, as evidenced by Flutterwave’s recent acquisition of Mono, an African open banking and account-based payments provider. This acquisition will strengthen Flutterwave’s payments infrastructure and accelerate the growth of open banking in Africa.
The African Fintech Summit predicts that Africa will become a driver of global growth, powering global finance, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. Telcos will make bold moves in licensed banking operations, acquiring licenses and transforming into banks. Local startups will scale up to meet the growing demand for global payroll and compliance services, while global companies will enter Africa to tap into the remote workforce market.
In 2026, fintech startups will seek more Micro Finance Institutions licenses for greater banking control, while banks will acquire fintechs to expand digitally. Founders with liquidity will invest locally, boosting secondary markets, and new regional funds will drive fresh investments into the tech sector.
The predicted shift in Africa’s fintech ecosystem is significant, as it marks a transition from the continent being a recipient of global investments to a hub that attracts global investments. With its digital-native youthful population and entrepreneurial resilience, Africa is poised to drive global growth and become a key player in the global fintech industry. As global companies like PayPal make strategic moves to re-enter the African market, the continent’s fintech sector is expected to experience significant growth and development in the coming year.
