The collaboration aims to develop and support the next phase of stablecoin-powered payments and settlements across the African continent.

The announcement comes on the heels of Flutterwave’s recent infrastructure integration with institutional crypto developer Turnkey.

While the Turnkey deal was explicitly designed to secure the underlying wallet infrastructure and streamline the creation of non-custodial wallets for users, this new partnership with Tempo expands Flutterwave’s actual settlement capacity, integrating a fresh Layer-1 blockchain network as a complementary settlement rail.

Together, the two deals signal a rapid, highly structured push by the African fintech giant to institutionalize stablecoin utility for real-world cross-border commerce.

Resolving the Remittance Friction Point

The collaboration aims to integrate Tempo as a blockchain settlement network within the Send App and Flutterwave for Business (F4B) platforms.

Together, the companies are working to combine their products, networks, and go-to-market capabilities to enable faster, more efficient global money movement once the infrastructure goes live.

This partnership directly addresses the high costs and lengthy delays that currently plague cross-border transactions into and across Africa.

According to the World Bank, remittance fees to sub-Saharan Africa average around 7%, which is significantly higher than the global average of 6% and well above the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%.

Furthermore, traditional reliance on complex correspondent banking and foreign exchange chains can delay settlements for several business days, reducing liquidity and straining working capital for businesses and families alike.

Technical Architecture & Product Scope

To address these friction points across select corridors, Flutterwave is integrating Tempo’s layer-1 blockchain network as a complementary settlement rail within its broader multi-chain payments infrastructure, which includes its existing Polygon-based stablecoin settlement capabilities.

Once fully deployed, this integration will support wallet-to-wallet USDC and USDT transactions, providing users with faster settlement times, stable network performance, and predictable transaction costs.

Tempo will operate as part of Flutterwave’s broader blockchain settlement infrastructure, complementing existing integrations and supporting Flutterwave’s continued commitment to Polygon-based stablecoin payment flows. This enables additional settlement options across specific corridors based on corridor requirements and operational needs.

The teams are currently working to enhance two core Flutterwave products designed for distinct user bases:

• Send App: Which connects individuals in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada to recipients across Africa.
• Flutterwave for Business (F4B): Which powers enterprise cross-border payments, supplier settlements, and USD-denominated flows.

Built for high-volume payment environments, Tempo’s infrastructure features fast transaction finality and aligns with ISO 20022 standards. This alignment will eventually allow enterprises to seamlessly reconcile cross-border transactions within their existing finance and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

The collaboration reflects a broader global evolution where stablecoins are transitioning from crypto-native speculation instruments into practical payment rails that improve settlement efficiency and access to global liquidity.

Commenting on the deployment, Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, Founder & CEO of Flutterwave, said:

“We are building the infrastructure for how money should move in a modern, connected world–, compliant, scalable, and designed for real-time global commerce. Our partnership with Tempo allows us to expand our existing payments ecosystem by adding additional practical stablecoin settlement rails. We are working together to turn these into everyday tools that will make cross-border payments faster, more predictable, and more cost-efficient for businesses and individuals across Africa. This actively removes friction from the system and expands our multi-rail standard of global payment connectivity for the continent.”

Highlighting the scale of the expansion, Dan Romero, Head of GTM at Tempo, added:

“Flutterwave has built one of the most extensive payments networks in Africa. We’re excited to work with their team to expand their stablecoin settlement to cross-border corridors that have traditionally relied on slow, expensive fiat rails for years, and to get it into production on Tempo.”

The Bigger Infrastructure Picture: Turnkey + Tempo

By connecting the dots between Flutterwave’s recent technical selections, a clear multi-layered blockchain strategy emerges.

The previous deal with Turnkey laid the security groundwork, utilizing advanced cryptographic primitives like Multi-Party Computation (MPC) to allow Flutterwave to generate and manage secure stablecoin wallets seamlessly behind the scenes.

With the wallet architecture secured by Turnkey, the partnership with Tempo provides the transactional “highways” (the settlement rails) to move assets across those wallets with institutional speed and low overhead.

As macro liquidity pressures persist across key African markets, Flutterwave’s deliberate assembly of a compliant, multi-chain stablecoin ecosystem positions it at the forefront of the continent’s evolving Web3 corporate payments landscape.

They’re misaligned with how customers live and shop and pay, particularly in mobile-first markets like South Africa and the broader African region.

A region that is anticipating growth of 18.1% over and that craves the ingenuity and value brought by mobile-driven rewards, gamification incentives, cashbacks and deeper financial inclusion.

Loyalty remains a key driver of customer engagement, but the traditional machinery that drives it no longer makes sense.

Retailers are often left carrying the weight of contingent liabilities for points that may never be redeemed, while customers are still trying to manage physical cards.

Traditional programmes are often fragmented, and many over-emphasise basic discounts and points while not really leveraging the data they gain to deliver true customer personalisation journeys.

The result is poor differentiation and engagement, even when membership numbers are high, and this dissatisfaction has seen a gentle side shuffle away from plastic cards and complicated systems towards an ecosystem-based approach to loyalty.

Partners, cross-brand earning, communities and interchangeable rewards across platforms and companies are taking their place. And these capabilities are being largely driven by an old technology on the block – blockchain.

Web3 and blockchain have been around for a while and are changing the physics of loyalty in ways that simplify the process for consumers and retailers alike. Instead of points sitting dormant and creating long-term liabilities for retailers, their value becomes tokenised.

These points can be instantly transferred, redeemed and earned and work at the point of customer decision-making. It’s loyalty at the edge.

Web3 allows retailers to apply instant, per-consumer-centric rewards at the point of transaction on such a granular level that two customers standing at neighbouring tills can receive personalised offers in real time based on who they are and how they shop. Blockchain handles the trust.

There are no next-day reconciliations or batching or waiting to see if loyalty data matches what the till saw.

Instead, payments and settlements are one and the same and take place at the exact moment of purchase, even when multiple parties have to be paid out at the same time. In traditional systems that level of coordination is impossible.

This real-time flow also removes the financial drag that comes with loyalty programmes. Contingent liabilities clog up accounting systems and create long-term risk, which is frustrating, especially when retailers can see the potential value of a smooth loyalty programme in building customer loyalty and retention. Web3 and blockchain remove this structural weight by building digital rewards that behave like currency and that can be settled, issued and redeemed instantly.

Adding even more value is the fact that these technologies are redesigning the economics of payments. Card transactions cost money in merchant fees, but imagine if retailers could avoid those fees? Web3 wallet payments bypass old cost architectures which means money saved can be reinvested back into consumer rewards or returns on investment.

Loyalty then stops being a cost centre and becomes a proper engine for growth, one that’s funded by the infrastructure that enables it.

Another huge benefit for retailers is that all the data and insights are sitting in a digital repository ready to be interpreted into personalised consumer journeys that deliver value. Imagine not serving a customer baby food adverts long after their child has finished school?

Or not targeting consumers with products they no longer buy? Web3 gives retailers the ability to sit inside the data so the consumer’s advertising journey is matched by their life one.

This value stretches beyond corporate retail and into spaza shops, taxi associations and informal traders who can now capitalise on loyalty programmes because blockchain levels the playing field. The same rails that handle enterprise customers can hold micro-merchants as well.

This is the new era of loyalty, which is fast and fluid and interoperable at scale. Blockchain and web3 are rewriting how retailers talk to consumers and finally getting loyalty to move at the same speed that customers expect.

By every global statistic, the continent is digitally switched on. But then, over 70% of its small businesses still cannot access proper finance or usable digital tools. 

We can stream, scan, tap, and swipe, but millions of founders still cannot fund growth or scale operations. That contradiction defines this moment.

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for about 95% of African businesses, generate roughly 40% of GDP, and employ over half of the workforce. The mobile sector alone already contributes more than $140 billion to sub-Saharan Africa’s economy. 

Add to this a population where over 60% are under the age of 25, and the picture becomes clear. Demand is not the problem. Infrastructure is not the problem. Leadership is the differentiator.

2026 is the year where surface-level innovation gives way to execution. The first wave of technology built rails, wallets, and connectivity. The next wave must bring credit that works, platforms that hold up under pressure, products people trust, and systems that serve the informal and formal economy equally. This work is quieter, slower, and far more difficult.

The people featured in this list are operating inside that gap. They are not reacting to growth but are organising it. Across finance, platforms, design, security, public systems, and digital services, these leaders are standing to enhance how Africa’s technology actually functions, not just how it is marketed.

These are the emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026, because while the continent is busy counting connections, they are building results. 

In no particular order, they include:

1. Adeshina Adewumi

If Africa’s next chapter of growth will still be driven by small businesses, then the people in the background, fixing access to money deserve close attention. Adeshina Adewumi is one of them. 

We see his work as infrastructure in motion. After more than a decade across banking, asset management, and digital ventures, he now operates at the point where policy goal meets street-level execution. 

His experience at institutions like Stanbic IBTC gave him structure. His ventures gave him speed. The result is a founder who understands both the limits of traditional finance and the urgency of replacing it with something that actually works for SMEs.

At Trade Lenda, Adewumi is not just building a fintech product; he is building trust at scale. A community of over 260,000 SMEs does not grow by marketing alone. It grows because the platform solves a relatable problem, which is access to credit, insurance, and micro savings for businesses that banks routinely ignore. 

What makes this worth watching in 2026 is not the size of the network, but the model behind it. Data-driven credit decisions, mobile-first delivery, and partnerships that strengthen SME bankability rather than trap founders in debt cycles. This is why global recognition, from the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech to IFC and EY awards, keeps following his work.

What elevates Adewumi into the emerging leader bracket is range. Through One Kiosk Africa, he is also tackling retail inefficiencies by connecting small merchants, supermarkets, and farmers directly to digital markets. 

Few founders operate confidently at the intersection of finance, retail technology, and trade policy. Fewer still sit on international trade bodies while building tools for market women and shop owners. 

He believes that Africa’s sustainability will be funded by structured, inclusive financing that allows MSMEs to grow on their own terms. By 2026, that philosophy may well impact how financial inclusion is measured across the continent.

2. Joshua Esiebo

That next chapter we talk about in Africa’s tech growth will not be driven only by startups. It will also be built inside large institutions that are reinventing themselves. Joshua Esiebo sits at that critical junction. 

At MTN, Africa’s largest telecoms group, his work as a senior manager in platforms management directly influences how millions experience digital services every day. His role is not limited to products, but more about direction, guiding a telecom giant away from pure connectivity and into a fully formed digital ecosystem.

Across Ayoba, MyMTN eMarketplace, MTN Play, and premium content platforms, Esiebo operates where technology, partnerships, and customer experience overlap. Platforms fail or scale based on governance, integration, and usability, so, you can tell how important his work is.

His focus on platform thinking, bringing content, payments, gaming, and data into coherent systems, is exactly what MTN needs as it executes its Ambition 2025 strategy and looks beyond it. By 2026, the success of MTN’s digital services will depend heavily on how well these platforms work together, not just how many users they attract.

What makes Esiebo one of the emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026 is his ecosystem mindset. He builds with partners, not around them. OTT providers, fintech players, content creators, and startups all plug into systems designed for scale and reliability. 

Importantly, his work prioritises accessibility, ensuring platforms serve both urban and rural users without friction. This customer-first discipline is usually talked about and rarely enforced. As MTN strengthens its drive into fintech and digital lifestyle services, Esiebo represents a new class of African tech leader, platform-driven, partnership-led, and quietly influential.

3. Emmanuel Olorundare

Great technology fails without good design. Emmanuel Olorundare has built a career proving the opposite. When design is done right, products travel, scale, and stay resilient. 

A senior product designer, creative technologist, and startup co-founder, his work already spans Europe, Africa, the UK, and now North America.

He has built digital products that do not just scale geographically, but culturally. His influence is heavy on how complex systems are turned into simple, usable experiences that millions rely on daily.

As Co-founder of Gupta, supporting over 3,000 businesses globally, Olorundare operates at the sharp end of product execution. His fingerprints are also on platforms like AfriPay, which simplifies international payments for African students and migrants, and ShipAfrica, now active in over 200 countries. 

These are not design exercises but operational products solving payment friction, logistics complexity, and trust gaps across borders. Add to this Jami, a UK-based social platform focused on worthy connections, and we see a pattern;  Olorundare builds products where human behaviour, technology, and scale collide.

What places him among emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026 is depth. His experience spans fintech, logistics, edtech, civic platforms, and AI-powered applications, yet his approach remains grounded in human-centred thinking. 

Beyond delivery, he is building future talent through mentorship across more than ten countries and UK-certified design education programmes. With an engineering-informed mindset and a designer’s instinct, he brings clarity to chaos and momentum to ideas. 

Design leadership is the difference between products people tolerate and products they trust. Emmanuel Olorundare understands this better than most.

4. Ogechi Okwechime

Some leaders build products. Others build markets. Ogechi Okwechime does both, and that is why she belongs on any serious watchlist for 2026. With more than fifteen years across banking and fintech, she has mastered the hard part of innovation in Africa, which is turning complex infrastructure into something businesses can actually use. 

At Interswitch, as Divisional Head of Growth Marketing for Enterprise Solutions, she operates behind the scenes of systems backing payments, preventing fraud, and keeping commerce moving at scale.

What makes her unique is her ability to turn technical depth into commercial momentum. When Verve needed to move beyond national relevance, Okwechime helped drive the strategy that transformed it into a truly African card scheme, active in over 22 countries. 

This was not expansion for clout. It was functional growth. Cards that worked across borders. Users who could shop on international platforms. Local consumers plugged into the global digital economy without friction. That alone changed how African payments are perceived.

Her record before Interswitch holds the same depth. At Access Bank, she helped launch digital loan products that reached over 50,000 borrowers. At Fidelity Bank, she scaled Instant Banking from nothing to more than 600,000 users. These are adoption numbers that reflect trust.

By 2026, as enterprise fintech solutions become more urgent to Africa’s economic plumbing, leaders like Okwechime, who combine product-led growth with disciplined execution, will define who wins and who fades.

5. Wallace Omobhude

Africa’s digital sustainability will be determined by how well large platforms understand entertainment, data, and youth culture. Wallace Omobhude is already deep in that work. 

At MTN Nigeria, he leads strategy for digital services with a focus on video and gaming, two verticals that sit at the centre of attention, engagement, and new revenue models. This is where telecoms stop selling data and start owning digital experiences.

Omobhude operates at a difficult confluence of product teams, marketing, regulators, and external content partners all pulling in different directions. His strength lies in alignment. OTT partnerships, VAS integrations, and regulatory compliance are handled with the same discipline as go-to-market execution. 

The result is platforms that scale without disorder. His work feeds directly into MTN’s diversification strategy, opening up entertainment-led revenue streams in a market where youth demographics are impossible to ignore.

Why watch him in 2026? Because MTN’s next phase depends on leaders who understand ecosystems. Omobhude’s data-driven approach, combined with sharp consumer insight, positions MTN to capture value far beyond connectivity. 

Gaming, video, and digital content are not side projects anymore. They are core to how Africa’s largest telecom stays relevant. Leaders who can build and govern these platforms will impact the industry’s direction. Wallace is already doing that work.

6. Nnaemeka Ani

Every tech ecosystem needs builders who think beyond products and into purpose. Nnaemeka Ani is one of those rare figures. He does not go after trends. He dismantles problems to their core and rebuilds from first principles. 

As Founder of MGX Research Centre and MexyGabriel Tech Company, Ani operates across research, infrastructure, policy, and execution, a combination that gives his work unusual depth and national relevance.

MGX Research is not a think tank for theory’s sake. It is a working laboratory focused on deployable systems across data science, cybersecurity, digital identity, smart cities, education, health, robotics, and automation. 

Ani believes that Africa’s growth will not come from borrowed solutions, but from systems designed for local realities and owned locally. This philosophy drives his push for digital sovereignty and African-built data infrastructure, turning code into both social and commercial value.

His influence expands into governance. As Special Adviser on ICT to the Enugu State Governor, Ani is proving that technology and public policy do not have to operate in parallel worlds. His work in Enugu shows what happens when political will meets technical clarity, resulting in better services, smarter systems, and a functional digital ecosystem. 

With Nigeria approaching major milestones in broadband expansion and tax reform in 2026, Ani represents a new kind of leader, part technologist, part reformer, fully invested in nation-building. He is one of the emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026 not because he speaks loudly, but because his work changes structures.

7. Abraham Oghenero Efemena

Scale is usually discussed loosely in tech. Abraham Oghenero Efemena treats it as discipline. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Apex Web Network Limited who has built a fintech platform operating across Africa and key European markets, with a focus on structure, resilience, and growth.

His leadership style is more operational than performative. Systems first. Expansion second. Noise last.

Reaching 300,000 active users in 2025 is not a small win. It shows product trust across borders, regulatory environments, and user behaviour patterns. That kind of traction only happens when infrastructure works quietly and consistently. 

Efemena oversees every moving part of Apex Web Network, ensuring teams, technology, and market strategy move in sync. This hands-on leadership is essential in fintech, where failure usually comes from weak internal alignment rather than bad ideas.

Why is he among the emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026? Because the next phase goes beyond surviving to controlled expansion. As Apex Web Network grows its user base and deepens its footprint, Efemena is building the company to compete in markets where compliance, security, and user experience determine winners. He represents a class of founders building for longevity.

8. Victor Daniyan

Payments are the bloodstream of any digital economy. Victor Daniyan understands this, and he is rebuilding how that system works across Africa. 

The CEO and Founder of Nearpays is pushing payment acceptance away from hardware-heavy models and into scalable, software-led infrastructure. We could call his work foundational, because when payments become easier, entire ecosystems are opened.

Nearpays has received recognition from EY, TechCabal, BusinessDay, and global platforms such as GITEX and the UN AI for Good Innovation Factory. The startup is empowering over 50,000 users through contactless and Soft POS solutions. 

Daniyan’s leadership sits on applied innovation and real-world adoption, proving that inclusion works best when technology fades into the background.

Looking forward to 2026, the company is entering its scale phase, with expansion in Nigeria and Ghana, stronger collaboration with Visa, and a focus on usability. Victor Daniyan stands among emerging leaders in tech to watch in 2026 because he is not just building a fintech product, but changing how businesses participate in the digital economy. That impact will only grow.

9. Peter Ndukwo

Every digital system is only as strong as the people testing its limits. Peter Ndukwo lives at that edge. As a Web3 Security Researcher and Smart Contract Auditor, his work protects some of the most valuable and complex decentralised systems in the world. When security fails, innovation collapses.

His record speaks; Audits on Chainlink, ZetaChain, and Brevis Pico. Multiple high-severity vulnerabilities discovered solo. Over 30 competitive audit wins across Sherlock and Code4rena. These are not academic exercises, they secure billions in value and protect users. 

Beyond these, his work at Zippel Labs places him inside zero-knowledge systems and cryptographic research driving the next generation of blockchain infrastructure.

Why he is placed among emerging tech leaders to watch in 2026 is not far-fetched. With decentralised systems becoming more complex, the cost of failure increases. Ndukwo is securing protocols and also mentoring African security researchers, as well as building tools to automate vulnerability discovery. 

He represents a system where Africa goes beyond using just decentralised systems to actively safeguarding and enhancing them.

10. Oluwatomi Alagbe

Security leadership today demands more than defence. It demands foresight. Oluwatomi Alagbe, one of the emerging tech leaders to watch in 2026, brings that perspective. Based in Tallinn and working at the convergence of cybersecurity, crypto, and advanced research systems, his career shows depth rather than drift. His strength is seen in how he turns complex risk into systems people can actually trust.

From protecting users at Malwarebytes to contributing to Caesar’s deep research platform, Alagbe’s work centres on resilience. He does not chase threats reactively; he builds frameworks that anticipate them. 

His experience across AI-driven systems and crypto environments gives him a rare interdisciplinary view, one that is becoming more important as boundaries between sectors blur.

What makes 2026 pivotal is what he is building next. Razzle, an AI-native communication platform, challenges how teams collaborate by placing intelligent systems at the core, not the edges. 

Alongside this, his continued work at Caesar focuses on reliability and real-world applicability, not abstraction. Alagbe is unique because he understands that trust is the currency of the next digital era, and security is how that trust is earned.

As these sounds echoed from one side of the hemisphere, we begin to hear the rhythmic pulse of Afrobeat and Amapiano having their explosive global rise from the other side.

The African continent has birthed a musical phenomenon that is making its way westward. As these sounds play through clubs and concert halls, Web3, the digital financial revolution, has introduced an interesting part in the fate of these artful creations.

Here is a question: What happens when a connected diaspora through music meets the boundless possibilities of decentralized technology?

The answer is being written in real-time, and organizations like Decentralized World by LyfeBloodDAO are at the forefront of this narrative, championing a renaissance that could reshape not just Africa, but the global digital landscape.

Complications of Black Music in this New Digital Infrastructure

Since the birth of Hip-Hop in the late 70s, it has broken through many barriers in the 50 plus years it has been around. From its humble beginnings on boom boxes to MP3s and now music streaming, we’ve witnessed titans make their mark like Nas, De La Soul, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Outkast and more.

However, the technology of music streaming we know of today has stagnated the business of music not just for the OGs but the new generation as well.

As Hip-Hop settles in its deserved place, the rise of African music owes much to the introduction of music streaming.

The growth of Afrobeats has been driven by the rise of social media and streaming apps like Audiomack, Soundcloud, Boomplay, Apple Music, and Spotify as well as the influence of Nigerians in diaspora.

Afrobeats artists including Wizkid, Uncle Waffles, Burna Boy, DBN Gogo, Davido, Major League Djz have performed on global stages reaching global audiences without the backing of major labels or radio stations.

Even though continental Africans have embraced this music distribution technology, the disgruntled narrative has been bubbling up from Western artists about the exploitation of music streaming.

The existing platforms we all know have drastically altered the economics of music. The talk of pennies per stream hasn’t made much dollars and cents and now western artists are slowing down trying to figure out an alternative.

The Missing Link: Where Music Meets Web3 in Africa

The simultaneous growth of African music, African-American musical impact and Web3 adoption has lead to a significant oversight: few organizations are exploring their combined potential.

This is precisely the gap that Decentralized World by LyfeBloodDAO is working to fill. In 2025, the organization made history by hosting the inaugural Decentralized Nigeria conference in Lagos, an event that brought together the Web3 and crypto communities in unprecedented ways.

On July 5, 2025, the Civic Centre in Lagos became the epicenter of a new digital awakening as blockchain leaders, Web3 enthusiasts, investors, and developers converged for the Decentralized Nigeria Conference. The conference was co-convened by two visionaries who embody the transatlantic nature of Africa’s & the diaspora’s Web3 revolution.

Nova Phoenix, a New York-based entrepreneur and founder of LyfebloodDAO, and Rume Ophi, a Nigerian blockchain advocate, analyst and Regional Director for LyfebloodDAO aimed to shift Africa’s digital narrative from adoption to innovation through the Decentralized Nigeria Conference.

Nova Phoenix’s LyfebloodDAO represents an innovative model for Web3 community building. The project will merge social media engagement with decentralized finance and NFT marketplaces to create an ecosystem that not only supports creators but also funds community initiatives.

This model is particularly relevant for musicians who increasingly rely on direct fan engagement and community support.

The goal of Decentralized Nigeria was to amplify the continent’s blockchain potential by aligning education, policy, and technology with the aspirations of a young, digitally native population.

The conference featured panels on blockchain adoption, AI integration in crypto, decentralized finance applications, NFT ecosystems, and the tokenization of real-world assets, all topics with direct relevance to the creative economy.

Decentralized South Africa 2026: Building on Lagos: The Next Chapter

The success of Decentralized Nigeria has laid the foundation for an even more ambitious undertaking. In 2026, Decentralized World is expanding to South Africa, a country that represents both Africa’s most developed economy and one of its biggest cultural centres.

Decentralized South Africa promises to be a watershed moment, a grand convergence where the best of music meets the best of Web3.

According to the Decentralized World organizers, the South Africa event builds directly on the Lagos foundation.

“Riding the success of Lagos 2025, we’re taking Decentralized World to South Africa,” the organizers announce. “Imagine a world around you touched by Web3 in every way. Come to South Africa & step into a movement building on the continent.”

The Cape Town event will elevate the concept pioneered in Lagos. “For 2026, we’re taking that same spirit to South Africa, a bigger stage, bolder conversations, and unforgettable experiences. From NFTs to stablecoin-powered interactions, every moment will bring the future closer. This isn’t just about talks, it’s about living the Web3 vision.”

Music at the Center: A Continent Connected for 2.5 Billion People

What distinguishes Decentralized South Africa from typical blockchain conferences is its explicit focus on fusing music and Web3 technology. The timing is deliberate.

The Diaspora, Nigeria and South Africa. A combination of Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeat and Amapiano respectively, represent the pillars of African diasporic musical influence.

By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion people, a quarter of humanity.

This demographic reality is a statistical projection that represents an enormous creative and economic force that will shape global culture for generations.

The X Space Series: Growing the Movement Through Conversation

Fortnightly Dialogues Starting November 29, 2025

Understanding that this kind of massive project requires ongoing engagement, not just periodic events, the organizers of Decentralized South Africa have launched an ambitious programme of fortnightly conversations on X (formerly Twitter).

Starting November 29, 2025, these X Spaces featuring experts and analysts from around the world discussing Web3, music, and the convergence of these fields.

The X Space series serves multiple crucial functions. First, it maintains momentum between the annual conferences, keeping the community engaged and the conversation evolving.

Second, it provides accessible entry points for people who cannot attend in-person events, democratizing access to insights and connections.

Third, it creates a public record of ideas, experiments, and lessons learned that can guide the broader ecosystem. Topics will range widely, reflecting the breadth of Web3 applications and their intersection with creative industries.

Why This Matters: South Africa, Nigeria and the Diaspora’s Shared Destiny

The question posed at the beginning, what can bring South Africa, Nigeria and the Diaspora’s beyond music? Find the answer in the vision that Decentralized World embodies.

These powerful forces, Africa’s largest economies have more in common than might be immediately apparent. The youthful, energetic, digitally-native populations are hungry for economic opportunities.

All have demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial energy despite challenging economic conditions. All have produced globally influential music that has reshaped international popular culture.

Even though both Nigeria and South Africa have emerged as leaders in African Web3 adoption, the diaspora have millions more eager to bring the knowledge and resources to the cryptocurrency market and blockchain-based services.

This is the revolution that Decentralized South Africa 2026 seeks to catalyze, not through rhetoric, but through concrete demonstrations, practical education, and the creation of networks that will continue generating value long after the conference ends.

This is Africa’s Web3 moment. This is the renaissance. And it’s just beginning. See more HERE.

Over 80 Nigerian Web3 startups have raised $130 million to date, with $20 million raised in 2024 alone, mostly in infrastructure and DeFi. 

Nonetheless, for all this progress, women hold less than 22% of tech roles in the country and a meagre 12% of leadership positions in emerging sectors like blockchain and AI.

That gap is exactly what Onone Peace Ega has set out to close. She is not just another Technical Project and Program manager, and not just a voice in the room; she is “a problem solver.”

“I drive innovation. I work with innovators to solve technology-related problems within the tech ecosystem,” she said.

With a solid foundation in Web2 and a growing leadership presence in Web3, Onone’s focus is on creating solutions that actually move people, businesses, and communities forward.

The Problem She’s Solving

Nigeria’s digital payments market is projected to hit $18 billion by 2026, powered by PSPs, agency banking, and mobile-first solutions. Stablecoin transfers alone neared $3 billion in Q1 2024, with USDT/NGN now the most traded pair on centralised exchanges. 

Beneath those glowing numbers, however, lies a vulnerability: only 15% of Nigerian Web3 developers are employed full-time, while 41% work as freelancers, often paid in crypto. 

Add the threat of cybercrime, Nigeria is projected to lose part of the $10.5 trillion global cybercrime cost by 2025, with over 2,300 attacks reported daily, and it becomes apparent why building inclusive, secure ecosystems is urgent.

Beyond Web3, Onone Ega sees herself as a bridge between the old and the new.

“In bridging the old and the new… my major focus, especially with the work I do at Women in DeFi, is inclusivity. Women inclusivity. As much as technology is advancing, I am particularly on a mission to ensure that as many women not just come to know about the technology, but also lead the conversations that happen.”

A Career Forged in Contrasts

Her path was not straightforward. From writing code in her early years to leading technical teams, she discovered that management came naturally to her. She learned leadership in two extremes, structured banking halls and fast-moving startups.

“As a leader, you have to get your hands dirty. You cannot conjure anything from any textbook. You need to know the business, especially leading within the tech space in Nigeria, which is very compliance-driven. In terms of execution, the definition of ‘done’ is that we’re delivering this value, this business value, and then customers are happy. A functional solution that’s giving value to the users is the definition of done.”

One project that pushed her to her limits was FastBuka, a food delivery and logistics platform that allowed crypto payments. With little funding, her team pushed through hackathons and pitches until the Stellar blockchain grant came through, validating their vision. 

Another was Nigeria’s own eNaira integration, where she managed the back-and-forth with CBN under high pressure and tighter timelines.

She laughs now, but every sleepless night taught her that innovation is never smooth—it’s always a fight.

The experiences Onone Ega gained in structured and fast-paced environments prepared her for the risks and opportunities of Web3.

Betting on Web3

For some, Web3 feels abstract; for Onone Ega, it is the future. When asked why Web3 excites her, she explains:

“Web3 is basically decentralisation. The authenticity, the fact that you can rely on the information that you put on the blockchain, and you know that nobody is going to alter it, and it’s transparent for everyone to see—that’s what makes Web3 really interesting for me.”

Still, she acknowledges the risks.

“Security is an area of concern for me because it’s still burgeoning, especially in Africa. The aspect of technology that’s now going to need to double up is security. How do you make your platform secure? Are we certain that when users try to integrate to your protocol they will not encounter malicious activities?”

This duality, the excitement of possibilities and the reality of threats, is what drives her advocacy.

Women in DeFi and True Inclusion

Through Women in DeFi, Ega has seen first-hand how access changes lives. At its Lagos conference, the largest women-led Web3 event in Africa, the team gave out laptops to participants. Months later, one recipient tweeted that the laptop had enabled her to finally begin learning—and earning—in Web3.

“Reading that testimony took away all the hassle, all the struggle of putting that entire event together. It was so fulfilling.”

But inclusion, for her, is not about filling quotas.

“Short answer would be equality. You’re not just a number. You’re not just a woman who is in the space, but you’re a woman who’s visible and who’s using her office to do good work, to impact the next generation of women as well.”

She mentors women returning to the workforce, young students, and mothers—pushing them to see that they are not limited by gender.

“Some people currently have the opinion that tech is saturated, or tech is hard. But this is not cut out for men alone. You too can do it, because they have brains. You equally have brains.”

On plans for the future, her vision is not small.

“I’m looking to build a technologically forward and inclusive future for women… on a global scale, expanding community outside of Africa, to Europe, to Asia. Global participation in the tech ecosystem and leading the conversations as well.”

If someone were to tell her story five years from now, she hopes it will be about courage and inspiration.

“I’m hoping that somebody is inspired by the fact that I dare to try. That they take a positive decision for themselves that changes their lives forever.”

For all her accomplishments, what keeps her centred is commendable:

“What keeps me grounded is largely my faith. I’m a Christian. I have a very good relationship with God. I spend time in fellowship to just centre myself. The world gets busy, it gets noisy, and so that helps me align my convictions to the work that I do, and also show up in society as a better person.”

From bridging Web2 and Web3 to championing inclusion in technology, Onone Peace Ega is bolstering the future; one project, one community, and one inspired woman at a time.

For years, ecosystems have been celebrated for hackathons, meetups and conferences, but when the lights go out — literally and figuratively — the momentum stalls. Behind every headline-grabbing raise lies a graveyard of ideas that never made it past pitch decks and demo days

Aya HQ, a Ghana- and Kenya-based Web3 talent hub, wants to change that survival rate. Branding itself a “No Bullshit Zone,” it provides the very foundation needed to get to the top: light, internet, and a place to build. Sometimes, that’s all a founder really needs to scale.

The Journey Before Aya HQ

Aya HQ’s founder, Eric Annan, did not arrive at this mission overnight. His journey into Web3 was impacted by both experiments and failures, including early ventures such as Digital Kudi and KibitX. 

Over time, he collaborated with various innovators across Africa’s blockchain ecosystem, and shifted his focus to bridging the talent-trust gap.

These ventures gave him proximity to Africa’s earliest blockchain experiments, but not every idea survived. Shutting down his initial ventures was as much about recognising limits as it was about recalibrating ambition.

That willingness to restart laid the groundwork for Aya HQ, which he founded alongside Pishikeni Tukura, and Dennis Ukonu. Rather than build another startup chasing the next wave, Annan chose to build infrastructure — a hub that would give others the basic conditions he once lacked.

A Different Kind of Hub

Aya HQ has now supported over 35 startups across four cohorts, two run independently and two with partners. What makes the model different, Annan argues, are the intangible assets often ignored in conversations about African startups: trust, belief, confidence, and refusing to sell yourself short just because you’re African. 

And when those cohorts graduate, Aya doesn’t just send them off, the hub continues to track and support its alumni, ensuring they have the tools, networks, and mentorship to scale and succeed.

He describes Aya HQ as a collective where founders are not competing for growth but are instead lifted by network effects. It is less about events and more about outcomes. 

At a recent panel, the founder of Digipay captured this impact when he said that without Aya, his company wouldn’t exist. “Aya HQ gave me a home,” he stated. “We had light, internet, and everything needed for the business.” For Annan, that single line, more than any pitch deck, is the proof of concept.

Annan’s bet has always been that Africa’s sustainable growth lies not in waiting for outsiders, but in trusting its own builders. “We are waiting for people who do not look like us to help us,” he said during our conversation, shaking his head at the thought. Aya’s work is a rebuke to that dependence, a belief that talent here can build globally competitive products if given the right scaffolding.

Investors Are Paying Attention

Aya HQ is also attracting backers who once looked past Africa’s blockchain sector. Global chains like Lisk have funded its work, and conversations are underway with investors to raise around $10 million. 

According to Annan, part of this will go into a $5 million microfund to back incubated startups, while the rest is earmarked for a special economic zone in Accra that will serve as both a founder campus and a live-in residency.

While the bigger investor community is beginning to view Aya HQ as a bet with returns, Annan points out that Y Combinator recovered its entire investment in African startups from just one exit. For him, that statistic is evidence that value already exists here, it simply needs better pipelines. 

Aya’s role, he says, is to prepare founders and developers to meet global demand without waiting for validation from abroad.

Just two years ago, Annan says he was questioned about Aya HQ’s direction, “‘What is Aya doing?’ ‘We don’t know actually what Aya is doing.’”

Now, those same voices are coming back to ask how they can help. “What excites me the most is being stubborn on the Aya mission,” he said. “We have had a plan since 2017, and waking up every day I begin to see that mission becoming clear.”

For him, leadership isn’t about cleverness or charisma. It’s about patience and faith, creating space for founders to fail, learn, and try again. That is why he takes pride not just in success stories, but in the quiet transformations he sees daily: entrepreneurs whose mindsets, and sometimes lives, have changed within eight months of joining Aya’s programmes.

This stubbornness, to hold ground until others catch up, may well be Aya HQ’s greatest asset. It is building what Eric calls the “plumbing” of Africa’s Web3 ecosystem: reliable infrastructure, credible founders, investable startups. It is not the loudest model, but it may be the most durable.

Aya’s story is still unfolding, but the takeaway so far is that survival in Africa’s startup sector requires more than a drive. It needs power, patience, and places like Aya HQ, where light shines on, and founders finally get to build.

The hub is still young, and scaling remains one of Annan’s greatest challenges. Should Aya HQ go deeper in Ghana, or expand into Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town? Yes, with the goal to build an African pipeline that doesn’t just feed into global markets but competes with them.

For Annan, however, the real fulfilment is not expansion for its own sake but impact on the ground. “Working out and seeing people talk about what Aya is doing, how their life has changed by connecting with Aya… it’s more than inspiring for me and that’s what gave me fulfilment. The money for me, it’s just a plus.”

Aya HQ may not yet rival Silicon Valley in capital, but in resilience, community, and conviction, it is already setting a standard.

With a bold theme — “Igniting Africa’s Web3 Revolution” — the event is positioned to catalyze the continent’s entry into the future of digital finance, decentralized governance, and next-generation internet technologies.

Spearheading this conference as a co-convener, is Nova Phoenix, the New York-based founder and CEO of LyfebloodDAO — a decentralized autonomous organization integrating social media, NFT marketplaces, and decentralized finance tools.

Alongside Nigerian Web3 strategist Rume Ophi, Nova is co-convening the conference to spark a crucial conversation about Africa’s role in shaping the global Web3 economy.

In a chat with the media recently, Nova shares his personal journey into blockchain, his vision for Africa, and what participants can expect from this landmark event.

From Media to Mission: The Rise of Nova Phoenix

Nova Phoenix didn’t begin in blockchain. His career launched in the world of media, working as a television producer and host.

“I started in local television production, hosting my own entertainment show,” he recalls.

That early exposure to storytelling, content creation, and audience engagement would become foundational to his approach to community-building in the digital space.

As he expanded into video and film production, Nova began to consider the broader implications of media, technology, and societal systems.

“That media foundation motivated me to start a social media company with a clear vision for global reach,” he says. “I saw the power of mass communication not just to entertain but to unite and build.”

This vision, combined with a growing interest in decentralized finance, led him to crypto in 2016. “I was watching the space grow and saw its potential to empower people,” he explains. But it was the COVID-19 pandemic that catalyzed his full pivot. “That was the moment. I said, ‘You know what? I’m all in on Web3.’” And just like that, LyfebloodDAO was born.

At its core, LyfebloodDAO is more than just another Web3 startup. It’s an ecosystem — a decentralized social platform that merges elements of Twitter, Facebook, an NFT marketplace, and a decentralized exchange (DEX). But beyond the tech stack, its mission is deeply human.

“We’re building a global community through our DAO token and a stablecoin,” Nova says. “But our focus is on quality-of-life programmes — education, housing, business development, and technology support for founders. It’s about harnessing technology to uplift lives.”

Through LyfebloodDAO, Nova envisions a new kind of social infrastructure — one powered not by centralized authorities but by individuals, communities, and smart contracts.

The Naija Connection

Nova’s ambition has always extended beyond the U.S. “I knew I wanted to go to Africa,” he says. “I felt like it would be a great opportunity to fast-track blockchain adoption.”

After attending global Web3 events in Dubai and Singapore, he reconnected with Rume Ophi — a Nigerian Web3 advocate he’d known through LinkedIn. “I said, ‘Hey, what’s going on in Africa?’ And Rume got back to me. At the time, there weren’t many events happening on the continent.”

That was all the motivation Nova needed.

“I said, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s organize something in Nigeria and then take it across Africa.’ And now, here we are — Decentralized Nigeria is happening.”

Why “Decentralized Nigeria”?

Nova is clear about the conference’s purpose: it’s not just a tech event — it’s a movement. “The Decentralized Nigeria Conference is about exploring the full potential of Web3 in Nigeria and across Africa,” he explains. “We want to bring together developers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and policy experts to see how decentralization can transform sectors like finance, governance, and the arts.”

The theme, Igniting Africa’s Web3 Revolution, signals urgency. “Africa has one of the youngest, most dynamic populations in the world,” Nova Phoenix says. “The tools are here. The talent is here. The question is — will we lead, or will we follow?”

What Is Web3, and Why Now?

For many Nigerians, the term Web3 still sounds esoteric. Nova breaks it down: “Web3 is the next generation of the internet, built on decentralized technologies like blockchain. It gives users more control over their data, identity, and financial transactions.”

In a country like Nigeria — where millions are unbanked, where governance challenges persist, and where creatives struggle with piracy and monetization — Web3 could be a game-changer. “It can enable transparent voting. It can give artists ownership of their work through NFTs. It can let people build wealth without relying on banks. That’s why it’s important now.”

Despite Nigeria’s early interest in cryptocurrency — with the country ranking among the top in crypto usage globally — the regulatory environment has been murky at best.

Nova believes that needs to change

“The government’s first step should be to create clear regulations that allow crypto platforms and stablecoins to operate better,” he says. “They need to see these technologies as tools for economic growth — not threats.” He points to opportunities for improved taxation, digital trade, and infrastructure development. “With the right frameworks, Nigeria can be a Web3 leader in Africa — maybe even the world.”

Decentralized Finance — or DeFi — holds particular promise in Nigeria, where traditional banking services often exclude rural populations or the informal economy.

“With DeFi, anyone with a smartphone and internet connection can access lending, borrowing, and savings tools,” Nova says. “It can close the financial inclusion gap, especially among youth and entrepreneurs.”

But adoption won’t happen in a vacuum. “We need education, awareness, and better digital infrastructure,” he adds. “And that’s part of what this conference aims to address.”

While the Decentralized Nigeria Conference will feature panels for developers and industry insiders, Nova emphasizes its inclusivity.

“This conference isn’t just for tech bros,” he says. “It’s for students, artists, small business owners, civil servants. We’ll have beginner workshops, creative sessions, and practical use case discussions.”

Sessions will cover everything from blockchain in agriculture to NFTs in entertainment, from digital ID systems to transparent voting technologies.

“We want people to walk away with knowledge they can use — in their businesses, in their communities, in their lives.”

The conference is expected to host a diverse lineup of speakers from Africa, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. From blockchain developers to policymakers, investors to educators, the stage will be set for cross-pollination of ideas.

“This international collaboration is key,” Nova Phoenix says. “It brings in global expertise and also showcases Nigeria’s homegrown talent.”

By putting Nigeria on the map as a serious player in Web3, Nova hopes to attract both capital and credibility to the country’s emerging tech scene.

Indeed, crypto scams are a serious concern in Nigeria and across the continent — a challenge Nova doesn’t shy away from. “We know trust is a big issue. That’s why education is front and center at this conference,” he explains. “We’ll have sessions on crypto safety, responsible investing, and how to identify real projects versus scams.”

The Role of Nigerian Youth

Nova is particularly excited about the role young Nigerians can play in the Web3 revolution. “Nigerians are already creating some of the most exciting blockchain projects out there,” he says. “With the right support, they can shape the global narrative.”

He envisions a future where Nigerian-built dApps (decentralized apps) serve global users, where local developers build platforms for the world.

“This isn’t about catching up. It’s about leapfrogging. And young Nigerians are the key.”

When asked what advice he has for young Nigerians eyeing a future in blockchain, Nova is clear: “Start with the basics. Learn how blockchain works. Join communities. Attend events. Build something — even if it’s small.”

He adds, “You don’t need to be a coder. Web3 needs marketers, designers, lawyers, educators. Everyone has a role to play.”

And perhaps most importantly: “Be responsible. Be safe. And be bold.”

Information on ticketing and registration will be released via the official Decentralized Nigeria website and social media platforms. The organizers encourage early registration, particularly for students and young professionals, as space is limited.

“We’re planning for 1,000+ attendees,” Nova says. “But more than numbers, it’s about energy. We want people who are hungry to learn and ready to build.”

Looking ahead, Nova sees Nigeria not just participating in the Web3 economy — but leading it. “I want to see Nigeria become a regional blockchain hub,” he says. “A place where innovation thrives, where problems are solved with code and creativity.”

He envisions blockchain being used for everything from digital land registries to supply chain verification, from transparent elections to empowering women entrepreneurs.

“It’s not just about money. It’s about dignity. It’s about sovereignty. It’s about giving power back to the people.”

As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria occupies a very vital position. The world is entering a decentralized era, and the question is no longer if — but when — the continent will fully join the revolution. Thanks to pioneers like Nova Phoenix and events like the Decentralized Nigeria Conference, the answer might just be: now.

“The Web3 revolution is happening,” Nova Phoenix says. “And young Nigerians have the talent and drive to lead it. Don’t wait. Be part of it. Help shape your digital future.”

The rise of Web3 and Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) is reshaping how people interact, collaborate, and manage digital spaces.

These innovations aim to move away from centralised control, empowering users with greater autonomy and ownership. But what exactly do these concepts mean, and how will they influence the future of digital communities?

Understanding Web3

To understand Web3, it’s useful to look back at how the internet has evolved. Web1 was the first phase, characterised by static web pages and limited user interaction.

Then came Web2, which introduced social media, interactive platforms, and user-generated content.

However, Web2 also led to the dominance of major tech corporations, which now control vast amounts of user data and online activities.

Web3 seeks to change this by decentralising the internet. Built on blockchain technology, Web3 enables users to control their data, digital assets, and online interactions without depending on a central authority.

Instead of platforms profiting from user engagement, Web3 aims to create a system where individuals can participate as owners, contributors, and decision-makers.

The key principles of this new digital era are transparency, security, and decentralisation.

The Role of DAOs in Web3

A Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) is a new model of governance that removes the need for traditional hierarchies.

Unlike conventional organisations, which have executives making decisions, DAOs rely on community-driven governance. Rules and decisions are managed through smart contracts—self-executing agreements that run on blockchain networks.

These organisations function in a decentralised manner, meaning power is distributed among all members rather than concentrated in a single entity. Members typically hold governance tokens, which give them voting rights on important matters such as project funding, operational changes, or community policies.

DAOs serve various purposes, from managing cryptocurrency projects and DeFi platforms to funding creative initiatives.

One well-known example is MakerDAO, which oversees the Maker Protocol and helps regulate decentralized stablecoins. Another case is ConstitutionDAO, a collective effort to purchase a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution. These examples highlight how DAOs can bring together individuals with shared goals, allowing them to collaborate effectively without relying on traditional corporate structures.

The Impact of Web3 and DAOs on Online Communities

Traditional online communities—such as those found on social media platforms—are often governed by centralised entities. Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit control how communities operate, moderate content, and manage user data. This centralised approach can lead to censorship, data privacy concerns, and a lack of financial incentives for participants.

Web3 introduces a more democratic and transparent model for online communities. Instead of a single company dictating rules, community members make decisions collectively.

DAOs take this a step further by enabling fully decentralised governance, where users vote on key issues and directly shape the future of their community.

One major advantage is monetisation and incentives. In Web2, users generate content and engage in discussions without direct compensation, while platforms profit from advertising.

Web3 changes this by allowing members to earn tokens for their contributions, whether it’s creating content, moderating discussions, or participating in governance. These tokens can hold real-world value, making participation more meaningful and rewarding.

Additionally, Web3 communities can own and control their digital assets. Instead of relying on a platform to store and manage intellectual property, DAOs give communities the power to collectively decide how assets are used. This could include digital art, software, or even physical goods, ensuring fair ownership and distribution.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite their potential, Web3 and DAOs face several challenges. Blockchain technology is still developing, and issues like scalability, transaction costs, and user experience need improvement. Many blockchain networks have high fees and slow transaction speeds, which can limit accessibility.

Additionally, interacting with decentralized applications (dApps) can be complicated for those unfamiliar with crypto wallets and smart contracts.

Another issue is DAO governance. While decentralization promotes fairness, it also comes with risks. Large token holders may gain disproportionate control, leading to decisions that benefit a few rather than the whole community. Additionally, low voter participation can make governance inefficient, as many members may not engage in decision-making processes.

The regulatory landscape is another uncertain factor. Governments and legal bodies are still figuring out how to classify and regulate blockchain-based organisations and digital currencies. Issues like taxation, intellectual property rights, and legal accountability remain unresolved, which could impact how DAOs operate globally.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite these challenges, the future of Web3 and DAOs looks promising. As blockchain technology advances and user-friendly solutions emerge, decentralised communities will likely become more mainstream. These new models of collaboration and governance have the potential to reshape industries, from finance and entertainment to social networking and commerce.

In the coming years, we may witness the rise of decentralised social platforms, community-owned marketplaces, and new digital economies where users have greater control over their online presence. Web3 and DAOs are more than just technological innovations—they represent a shift toward a more open, fair, and participatory internet.

As these concepts continue to evolve, they will redefine how people connect, collaborate, and build digital ecosystems. The future of online communities is not just about technology—it’s about empowering individuals and fostering a decentralised, user-driven internet.

*Olusegun Afolabi, is the chief innovations architect, Face Technologies UK Limited. Linkedin Profile is here.

The financing round, which includes both equity and debt, was co-led by Polymorphic Capital with participation from other investors, including Octerra Capital, Faculty Group, and Trive Digital.

The funding will enable the company to expand its operations into Latin America and Southeast Asia, regions facing similar liquidity issues.

MANSA focuses on improving cash flow for payment providers by offering real-time liquidity solutions. Instead of traditional lending methods that require collateral, the company underwrites loans using transaction data, providing a more flexible and efficient approach.

“Our partnership with Tether is so consequential and why we’re working very closely together to make it the primary stablecoin in emerging markets,” said MANSA’s CEO, Mouloukou Sanoh.

Founded by Sanoh and Nkiru Uwaje, MANSA has quickly grown in the payments sector. Sanoh, an experienced investor in African fintechs, previously worked at web3 VC firm Adaverse, while Uwaje was formerly an innovation manager at SWIFT and led blockchain strategy for Dell in the UK and Ireland.

The startup’s model is particularly relevant in emerging markets where payment providers often struggle with liquidity shortages, leading to delayed transactions and increased costs. 

According to MANSA, cross-border payments are projected to reach $290.2 trillion annually by 2030, and inefficiencies in the system could result in huge financial losses for businesses.

Beyond Africa, where MANSA has been primarily active, the company is now targeting Latin America and Southeast Asia, aiming to provide the same liquidity solutions to businesses facing similar challenges. 

To support this expansion, it has secured $7 million in liquidity funding from institutions, including corporate investors, quantitative funds, and hedge funds.

MANSA reports strong growth since its launch in August 2024. The company’s transaction volume surged from $1.6 million in its first month to $11 million in January 2025, with a compounded monthly growth rate of 37.5%.

So far, MANSA has processed nearly $31 million in transactions and expects to reach a $1 billion total payment volume run rate this year.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that the stablecoin provider is “proud to collaborate with MANSA and support their efforts to reshape global payment infrastructure.”

In addition to its liquidity solutions, MANSA is investing in regulatory compliance. The company has brought on industry veterans, including the former head of HSBC North Asia and the chief legal officer of Franklin Templeton, to strengthen its oversight. 

MANSA’s compliance measures include AML checks, sanction screening, KYC, KYB, transaction monitoring, and blockchain analytics tools.

Moving forward, the company plans to expand beyond liquidity provision. “We’re starting by being the primary liquidity provider to the biggest payment companies across emerging markets,” Sanoh explained.

“From there, we can handle payouts and also offer additional services like foreign exchange. The goal is to create a one-stop payment platform where they can finance their payments, settle transactions instantly, and access foreign currency seamlessly—all in one place.”

With a growing client base that includes B2B payment platforms, virtual card providers, stablecoin infrastructure companies, forex platforms, and remittance firms, MANSA’s impact on the global payments landscape is expected to deepen.

The company claims that clients using its solutions have already seen a 30% increase in transaction volumes and a 10% boost in revenue.

Vitaly Spassky, managing partner, Polymorphic Capital, said Mansa is here to disrupt a massive traditional market with blockchain and the Web3 paradigm. “Polymorphic supports extraordinary founders. The Mansa team is up to this incredible challenge.”

Ashim Egunjobi, managing partner, Octerra Capital, also stated: “We invested in MANSA because of their bold, diverse, high-calibre team of visionary founders addressing critical challenges faced by payments companies in Emerging Markets. We firmly believe that decentralized finance and asset tokenization are game-changing frontier technologies. With immense market potential in emerging economies, MANSA is uniquely positioned to drive transformative impact and bridge the credit gap across Africa.”

“We are incredibly excited to have been the first investor in Mansa. Our decision to invest was driven primarily by our strong confidence in the leadership team, and we are certain they will continue to validate our belief. Additionally, we are thrilled about the future of crypto payments and Mansa’s potential to make transactions in emerging markets faster, cheaper, and more efficient,” Sebastian Cheek, head of Investment, Faculty Group

Shawn Tan, general partner, TRIVE Digital, commented that MANSA addresses a fundamental liquidity challenge in cross-border payments, leveraging stablecoins to create more efficient and accessible financial rails. “TRIVE Digital backs visionary founders building the future of Web3, and we are excited to support the MANSA team as they drive transformative impact in the global payments industry.”

With over $5,000 in prizes, the hackathon provided a platform for developers to brainstorm and create unique AI agents while competing for recognition and investment opportunities.

Supported by Web3 Afrika, LetsDap, Superteam Nigeria, and sponsored by Shawmakesmagic, the event was a melting pot for talent and cutting-edge projects built on the Eliza Framework—one of the fastest-growing GitHub projects simplifying AI agent development—who pitched their solutions to judges and investors.

Matthew Graham, CEO of Ryze Labs reiterated the hackathon’s importance within their global vision to connect the best emerging market projects to the world. He noted Nigeria’s tech prospects, referencing its youthful demographics and growing cryptocurrency adoption.

“For many years, I’ve wanted to have a presence in Nigeria. After all, it’s often called the ‘Silicon Valley of Africa,’ with a cryptocurrency penetration rate of over 35%,” he stated.

Noting the meritocratic nature of AI and Web3, Graham added: “There’s an opportunity here for people without unfair advantages to make a real impact. AI agents, particularly with frameworks like Eliza, are the most significant innovation since the rise of DeFi.

“With AI agents being the biggest innovation since GPT, this is a tremendous time of opportunity. Events like this allow us to find and support the best talent from all over the world.”

Paul-Mary Omile, Investment Analyst at Ryze Labs, stressed the company’s vision for tapping into Nigeria’s tech talent: “We are trying to tap into emerging markets, and we believe Nigeria is part of it. We’re organising hackathons to identify the best developers and projects to fund, bringing them into our ecosystem.”

Omile further revealed that Ryze Labs operates a $5 million AI-focused fund under the AI Combinator initiative, aimed at supporting early-stage projects in AI and Web3. He emphasised Nigeria’s potential in the global tech space, noting that hackathons like this help in upscaling local talent.

The hackathon wrapped up with Demo Day, where finalists presented their projects. After commendable pitches, the following winners were announced:

1. First Place: SupplyVest
Simplifying high-volume informal trade with AI, SupplyVest connects SMEs with DeFi tools to grow procurement, sales, and supply chain operations, expanding their global reach.

2. Second Place: ChattaTrader
Simplifying DeFi token trading, ChattaTrader enables users to trade via voice, text, or screenshots, making decentralised finance more accessible.

3. Third Place: Magent
Empowering businesses with AI-powered marketing tools, Magent analyses data, predicts trends, and creates personalised strategies.

The Lagos AI Combinator Hackathon asserted Ryze Labs’ mission to identify and support top-tier talent of AI and Web3 innovators.

With similar Hackathons already done in China and now Nigeria, the next stop is India, as revealed by Paul. Ryze Labs is creating a global platform for ideas, with plans for even greater expansion later on.

The CEO summarised the initiative: “This is a special time for AI and crypto. Today, we’ve seen incredible potential. Across  investment, hiring, or advisory support, we’re happy to work with developers impacting the future.”