M-KOPA, a trailblazing fintech serving emerging markets, has been named one of the World’s Top Fintech Companies for 2025 by CNBC, marking another major milestone as it surpasses $2 billion in credit disbursed to more than 7 million customers across Africa.
The recognition places M-KOPA among 300 global fintech leaders, with the company selected in the ‘Alternative Financing’ category, reserved for innovators delivering digital credit and funding solutions in new, inclusive ways.
Redefining Access to Finance in Emerging Markets
Unlike traditional financial institutions, M-KOPA has built a model that meets people where they are, using embedded smartphone technology and a flexible pay-as-you-go model to reach the financially excluded. Its devices don’t just provide internet access; they come bundled with affordable credit, health insurance, and device protection, empowering millions to access essential services and economic opportunities.
Through its Smart Money platform, M-KOPA is onboarding more than 200,000 customers per month and processing over 15 payments per second.
With over a decade’s worth of payment data and AI-powered credit analytics, the company has created rich credit histories for customers previously invisible to traditional banks.
“Surpassing $2 billion in credit and being named one of the world’s top fintechs by CNBC is a powerful validation of what we’ve built,” said Jesse Moore, CEO and co-founder of M-KOPA.
“It signals a turning point, not just for us, but for how the world views sustainable growth and financial inclusion in emerging markets.”
Building Africa’s Largest Direct Sales Network
M-KOPA’s reach is driven by its 35,000-strong direct sales force, active across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. While smartphones remain its flagship product, the company has already expanded into electric motorbike financing, proving the adaptability and scale of its inclusive financial model.
Positioned for the Future of Fintech
M-KOPA’s recognition comes amid a broader shift in the global fintech landscape. According to a 2025 World Economic Forum report, fintech revenues are projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, with much of that growth expected to come from emerging markets.
Meanwhile, more than 1.4 billion adults globally still lack access to basic financial services, highlighting the urgency and opportunity for innovative fintechs like M-KOPA.
As M-KOPA continues to scale across Africa and beyond, it stands as a powerful example of how technology, data, and design thinking can come together to unlock real, lasting financial inclusion at scale.
🔗 Read the full CNBC list here: World’s Top Fintech Companies 2025
