Why Africa’s Fintech Ecosystems Must Unite to Shape the Future of Crypto, AI and PassPorting across the continent.

As the continent’s fintech players push boundaries, the time has come for the ecosystem to take charge of its own destiny, Some things are better solved as an industry rather than individual players.

Introduction.

The African fintech landscape is booming, with digital finance, cryptocurrencies, AI-powered banking, and cross-border payments offering new opportunities for growth and innovation. Yet, the challenges we face are not small—especially when it comes to regulation, taxation, and market access. Many African nations are grappling with the question of how to regulate digital assets, ensure consumer protection, and foster innovation. As the continent’s fintech players push boundaries, the time has come for the entire ecosystem to unite and take charge of its own destiny.

As key players in the industry, we must recognize that some of the most important regulatory initiatives—such as crypto asset taxation, cross-border licensing (passporting), and the integration of AI in banking—cannot be led by isolated players. They must be tackled collectively, and this can only be done through collaboration and effective lobbying for industry-friendly frameworks that benefit everyone, especially consumers and businesses.

Here are five critical initiatives where Africa’s fintech ecosystem should take the lead, driving innovation while ensuring a regulatory environment that supports sustainable growth.

1. Passporting: Building a Pan-African Licensing Framework

In Ghana and Rwanda, both countries have taken a pioneering step by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a passporting framework for financial licenses. This allows fintech companies that are licensed in one of the countries to operate in the other without needing additional licensing. This framework enhances the mobility of financial services across borders, encouraging cross-border innovation and making it easier for companies to scale regionally.

While Ghana and Rwanda have made strides, it’s time for the African fintech ecosystem to push for a continent-wide passporting framework, led by AFN and supported by national fintech associations. By working together, we can create a unified licensing system that reduces barriers to market entry, increases investment, and fosters regional partnerships. This will ultimately create a single market for financial services across Africa, benefiting businesses and consumers alike.

2. Fundraising: Empowering African Startups with Clear, Inclusive Regulation

The future of fundraising across Africa is uncertain, as traditional avenues such as Mastercard, USAID, and Y Combinator increasingly pull back from the continent. However, this presents an opportunity for Africa’s fintech sector to take charge and create new pathways for fundraising, such as equity crowdfunding, security token offerings, and debt financing.

AFN, alongside its member associations such as TAFINA (Tanzania), Kenya Fintech Alliance, and FITSPA (Uganda), can play a central role in advocating for clearer and more accessible fundraising regulations, making it easier for African fintech startups to raise capital both locally and globally. As the global fintech ecosystem moves toward decentralized finance and digital investment, we must ensure that African players are well-positioned to access the funds needed to fuel growth and scale.

3. Cryptocurrency and Asset Regulations: Taxation and Legal Frameworks

In Tanzania and Kenya, while cryptocurrencies are not yet regulated, they are also not illegal. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have taken steps to tax crypto assets, even as the industry continues to grow in regulatory ambiguity. Companies like YellowCard in Tanzania are fighting for a clearer regulatory framework, and the Kenya Fintech Alliance is similarly pushing for better clarity on how cryptocurrencies can be treated within existing tax laws.

However, it is clear that a collaborative regulatory approach is necessary. Rather than leaving these battles to individual players, we must come together as an ecosystem to push for clearer tax policies, improved consumer protections, and a legal framework that supports innovation while ensuring transparency. Through sandbox models, AFN can facilitate these discussions and help countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Mauritius replicate successful regulatory models, while offering a platform for the sector to unify and shape Africa’s crypto future.

4. AI-Powered Open Banking: Harnessing Data for AML, KYC, Fraud, and Credit Scoring

AI-powered open banking is a game-changer for the African fintech ecosystem. With the ability to enhance processes such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), fraud detection, and credit scoring, AI enables financial institutions to serve a wider range of customers more effectively, including those in underserved markets.

However, the regulatory framework around AI remains underdeveloped in many African countries. The Kenya Fintech Alliance and TAFINA (Tanzania) should take a leading role in lobbying for AI regulations that enable innovation in financial services, while ensuring that the data privacy and security of consumers are prioritized. By supporting the development of AI in banking, we can offer more affordable, accessible, and effective financial services, which in turn will drive financial inclusion across the continent.

5. Stablecoins: Enhancing Cross-Border Payments and Currency Management

Apart from joining Circle for rails, we need to talk about owning rails, Stablecoins are a powerful tool for improving cross-border payments, offering a faster, more efficient, and more affordable way to transfer money across borders. In Africa, where currency volatility and high remittance costs remain significant challenges, stablecoins have the potential to drastically lower the cost of payments and facilitate smoother transactions between countries.

However, stablecoin regulation is still in its infancy across many African countries. AFN and its member associations should take a leading role in advocating for regulatory frameworks that support the use of stablecoins and digital currencies. By doing so, we can create a more efficient payment ecosystem, where cross-border payments are faster, cheaper, and more accessible for all.

The Call to Action: We Must Lead the Conversation as an Ecosystem

While each of these five initiatives is critical, they are all better tackled as an ecosystem rather than by individual players. The diverse and fragmented nature of African fintech demands a collaborative approach, where AFN, alongside its member associations such as TAFINA, FITSPA, Kenya Fintech Alliance, FINASA (South Africa), and others, can unite stakeholders and guide the conversation toward regulations that benefit the entire industry.

Rather than waiting for individual countries to act or for regulators to catch up, we must take charge. We must push for inclusive regulation that accommodates diverse players, from startups to multinational corporations, and fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection. We must lead the discussions on sandboxing, cross-border licensing, and the adoption of AI and stablecoins—and we must do it together.

Let’s make sure that Africa’s fintech ecosystem doesn’t just react to changes but leads the charge in shaping the future of fintech and digital assets. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive financial sector that benefits not just Africa, but the global economy as well. It’s time for us to lead, not just participate. Let’s act as one ecosystem, united for a better future.