Startups & Funding

Credit Direct wants a bigger role in how Nigerians access financial services

Nigerian consumer lending firm Credit Direct is expanding beyond traditional loan products to integrate embedded finance into everyday digital platforms. Speaking at Moonshot by TechCabal 2026, product marketing lead Victoria Arinze explained how providing credit at the point of transaction helps bring financial services closer to underserved consumers.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Infrastructure

Stablecoins gain ground in African trade but face hurdles to wider use

Dollar-pegged stablecoins are increasingly providing African enterprises with alternative channels to pay international suppliers outside traditional banking hours. However, security concerns over platform hacks, higher settlement fees, and regulatory warnings from the IMF continue to impede mainstream commercial adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Infrastructure

Nigeria’s stablecoin demand has scaled. Its liquidity hasn’t, says Obiex

Surging interest in digital dollars across Nigeria has created an imbalance between retail buyer demand and local market liquidity. Speaking at Moonshot 2026, cryptocurrency platform Obiex highlighted that while execution efficiency has improved, scaling deep liquidity pools remains essential to support sustained transaction volumes.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Startups & Funding

Raenest wants users to earn from their money, not just receive it

African cross-border payments company Raenest is expanding beyond money transfers to help users generate returns on their balances. Speaking at Moonshot 2026, co-founder and chief executive officer Richard Oyome outlined how integrating earning mechanisms and stablecoin liquidity allows creators, freelancers, and businesses to maximize their stored funds.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Infrastructure

Breet makes case for simpler crypto payments at Moonshot

African cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Breet is advocating for simpler digital asset payments to drive enterprise adoption. Speaking at Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos, chief operating officer Vivian Mbene emphasized that enabling businesses to receive local currency settlements directly is critical to overcoming merchant skepticism.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Opinion & Analysis

Banks must become ‘invisible’ to compete in digital finance

Traditional commercial lenders must embed financial services directly into everyday consumer transactions to remain competitive alongside digital platforms. Speaking at Moonshot by TechCabal in Lagos, industry leaders from Access Holdings and OPay argued that future banking success relies on making core financial infrastructure seamless and invisible.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

AI & Emerging Technology

Inside Nigeria’s $7.5M Gates-backed AI scaling hub 

Nigeria’s $7.5 million Gates Foundation-backed artificial intelligence scaling initiative is deploying capital and technical support to transform essential public sectors. By bringing together health, agriculture, and AI research ventures, the hub accelerates practical digital solutions designed around local community needs.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read

Startups & Funding

Grey launches Paycheck, targets growth beyond three million users

African fintech company Grey has launched Paycheck, an automated payroll solution designed for businesses employing international and remote talent. Building on its existing cross-border consumer payment platform, the new tool aims to accelerate user growth beyond three million accounts.

AfroTech Horizon Newsroom 2 min read