He noted that the companies best placed to capture that shift are the ones that already have the local distribution and compliance depth to turn digital assets into usable, real-world value.

The Flutterwave CEO made these remarks across two high-profile engagements at Money 20/20 Europe in Amsterdam.

During the event, he joined Dima Kats, Founder and Group Executive Chair of Clear Junction, for a fireside chat titled “Building the Rails: Stablecoin Architecture from Lagos to London,” under the Money Stack Rewired: Stablecoins and Beyond content pillar.

Agboola, direct about Flutterwave’s positioning, noted that stablecoins are not a standalone product category but a faster settlement layer sitting directly on top of the company’s comprehensive, existing local and global payout infrastructure.

For enterprises managing treasury across multiple African markets, he framed stablecoins as a liquidity and FX management tool that keeps working when traditional banking rails are closed.

“Stablecoin is completely different because money moves at the speed of the internet, not at the speed of banks closing up their house. If you pay with stablecoin, you get that money instantly,” he added.

Addressing whether stablecoins make infrastructure intermediaries obsolete, Agboola asserted that wallet-to-wallet token transfers are straightforward. However, handling the legal compliance, navigating anti-money laundering (AML) laws, and clearing the last-mile payout into actual local bank accounts across multiple jurisdictions are the complex problems that keep Flutterwave’s infrastructure indispensable.

“I’ve been in payments for about 20 years now, and the infrastructure that manages customer funds must be designed for shocks from day one; it doesn’t matter if the value comes from stablecoin or fiat. This is what we’ve prioritised, giving customers one wallet address that is chain-agnostic, supported by all the biggest blockchains, ensuring customer funds are not at risk,” Agboola said.

Speaking live on Fintech.TV’s Market Movers from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) broadcast center at the event, Agboola used Flutterwave’s 10th anniversary to anchor a wider conversation about the company’s trajectory for the next decade.

He outlined the company’s evolution, noting that while the last decade was spent connecting Africa’s fragmented payment infrastructure through a single API, the next will focus on Flutterwave becoming the financial operating system for the continent.

The company’s recent secured microfinance banking license in Nigeria, Agboola noted, is a structural evolution from a “money in transit” provider to a foundational infrastructure player.

This deeper integration systematically reduces friction across the value chain, increases network reliability, and opens up entirely new verticals across the ecosystem.

This evolution aligns directly with the company’s goal of building a multi-rail infrastructure where stablecoins and fiat rails work seamlessly side by side to power Africa’s growth.

To anchor the cross-border capabilities of this financial operating system, Flutterwave continues to scale its robust network of global digital asset partnerships, including Circle, Polygon, Fireblocks Flow, Nuvion, and Tempo.

This collaborative ecosystem serves as the backbone of what the company is rapidly positioning as Africa’s largest regulated stablecoin infrastructure.

The accelerator, which was unveiled in 2024, aims to support startups building AI-driven products across Africa. With a solid focus on promoting innovation, Resilience17 is offering up to $200,000 in funding and mentorship to selected startups, taking an 8% equity stake in return.

Resilience17 rebranded to strengthen its focus on African technology entrepreneurship. Over the past few years, the fund has grown its portfolio with companies like Klasha, Pivo, and Bamboo. 

Now, with the Go Time AI initiative, it is targeting sectors such as artificial intelligence. The accelerator seeks to provide the financial support, infrastructure, and expert guidance that African AI startups need to scale and compete globally.

General Partner of Resilience17, Hasan Luongo, said despite challenges acutely highlighted in 2024, Nigeria is set to continue leading as a global technology hub and can lead in AI. “We launched Go Time AI to prove this thesis. After the last 4 months working closely with the 1st cohort of AI companies, that conviction has only become stronger,” he stated.

The accelerator’s first cohort, which started in early 2024, saw five startups join the programme. These startups—Catlog, Sahel AI, Tyms, AI Teacha, and FriendNPal—are working on innovative solutions such as AI-powered customer service bots, contract review tools, accounting software, educational aids, and mental health platforms. 

As part of the programme, each of these startups received $25,000 in initial funding, with the potential for up to $175,000 more in subsequent rounds.

Unlike other accelerator programmes, Go Time AI does not operate with a fixed cohort size, allowing it to remain flexible and open to new startups. 

The programme also offers a unique mix of resources, including cloud credits, API services, and regular mentoring sessions. Participants also have access to “Office Hours,” where they engage directly with seasoned entrepreneurs and experts to discuss technical challenges, growth strategies, and product development.

Luongo further explained the accelerator’s approach, saying, “Our goal was not to teach founders how to run a company but specifically narrow the focus on what we see as the most important things any early-stage companies should be focused on. Building a world-class product experience and getting users into the product and to the magic moment where they see clear value.”

The Go Time AI accelerator aims to fill a huge gap for African founders, providing both capital and needed mentorship, technical expertise, and networking opportunities. With AI technology growing fast and being a global discourse, Resilience17’s initiative helps African startups to lead in this unique space.

Applications for the second cohort of the programme will open in May 2025, and Resilience17’s impact is expected to grow as more startups gain the resources they need to succeed in the AI industry.

Through its support for the next generation of African innovators, Resilience17 is stimulating resilience—one of Africa’s greatest strengths—and Go Time AI is essential to scale through the challenging, yet exciting, road to success.