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Category: Finance
Finance insights covering banking, fintech, investment, financial services and market developments shaping Africa’s economy.
Global Trade Credit Insurance Claims Drop in 2024, but Africa Remains Key Risk Zone, Survey Finds
Global trade credit insurance claims dropped in both volume and value in 2024, with total claims falling by nearly 25% to just over $400 million, according to a survey by the Lloyd’s Market Association and partners. Despite the decline, Africa remained the leading source of claims, accounting for 71% of cases. Most claims were paid promptly, highlighting the reliability of trade credit insurance, particularly in high-risk regions and infrastructure sectors.
GENIUS Act Could Spark Wave of Stablecoin Launches, Says D24 Fintech Group
The GENIUS Act, recently approved by the US Senate, could pave the way for a major shift in the global digital payments ecosystem. The legislation aims to create a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins, fostering institutional trust and adoption across sectors like banking, retail, and fintech. Stablecoins, fully backed by liquid assets, could become integral to cross-border payments, global payroll, and retail. As market leaders like PayPal, Stripe, and Walmart position themselves for stablecoin adoption, analysts predict significant growth opportunities for stablecoins in global markets. With the GENIUS Act, digital money could enter a regulated era, unlocking mainstream adoption and bridging traditional finance with crypto.
Why Impact Investing Must Reshape M&A Strategy in Africa’s Energy Landscape
As Africa experiences a transformative energy transition, traditional M&A strategies focused solely on financial returns fall short in addressing social and environmental challenges. This article argues that impact investing must reshape merger and acquisition approaches in Africa’s energy sector by integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into valuation and deal-making. Through case studies from Angola and Namibia, it demonstrates how embedding impact metrics into financial models can enhance value creation, support sustainable development, and align investments with local sovereignty and community needs.
The Hidden Complexity of Tokenisation: Why Implementation is Harder than it Looks
Tokenisation, a promising solution in mobile payments and e-commerce, offers secure, efficient, and seamless transactions by replacing sensitive data with randomized tokens. While the technology promises reduced fraud and enhanced security, implementing tokenisation is more challenging than it appears. This article explores the technical and regulatory complexities involved, including integration issues, vendor fragmentation, and compliance with evolving data protection laws. It also highlights how Stanchion’s expertise can help businesses overcome these challenges to unlock the benefits of tokenisation and virtual card issuing.
Verto Introduces Auto Exchange: A Seamless Way for Businesses to Secure Optimal FX Rates
Verto, a leading global payment solutions provider, has launched Auto Exchange, a new feature designed to help businesses secure optimal foreign exchange (FX) rates automatically. This tool allows users to set target exchange rates and trade amounts within the Verto platform, enabling seamless execution without constant monitoring. By automating this process, businesses can save time and ensure they never miss out on favorable FX rates. Auto Exchange empowers customers to focus on growing their businesses while Verto manages the FX execution for them.
Digital Dynamism in the Finance Sector: Moving at the right speed and the right economics
In Digital Dynamism in the Finance Sector, Tawanda Chatikobo of Absa Regional Operations explores how African financial institutions must evolve to meet rising digital expectations. With mobile-first consumers, growing fintech ecosystems, and platforms like super apps reshaping user behavior, banks face a dual imperative: deliver world-class digital experiences while maintaining cost-efficiency. The article examines how embedded finance, open banking, and ecosystem partnerships can drive inclusion, innovation, and customer-centricity across Africa’s financial landscape.
De-Risking Africa’s Renewable Energy Agenda
“De-Risking Africa’s Renewable Energy Agenda” explores the critical role of financial and structural risk mitigation in unlocking investment for Africa’s renewable energy sector. Authors Opy Ramaremisa and Vuyo Mafrika of Absa CIB highlight the pressing need for early-stage support, innovative hedging tools, and market-responsive strategies to align investor confidence with the continent’s renewable energy ambitions. The article underscores how integrating risk management from project inception can bridge the gap between capital availability and project bankability.
How Fintech is Bridging the Financial Inclusion Gap for Africa’s Smallholder Farmers
Smallholder farmers in Africa face growing climate threats yet remain largely excluded from traditional financial systems due to lack of credit histories, collateral, and infrastructure. This article explores how fintech innovations — from mobile lending and digital wallets to AI-powered credit scoring and blockchain — are transforming financial access for rural farmers. By leveraging alternative data and user-friendly platforms, fintech is helping build climate resilience, boost agricultural productivity, and close a $117 billion financing gap. The piece also emphasizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration to drive scalable, inclusive, and sustainable financial solutions.
How Money Moves Across Borders – and Why Securing It Matters
Money moves across borders in Africa every day, often amounting to billions in cross-border payments, remittances, and government transfers. This vast flow of funds is processed through an increasingly strained infrastructure that faces evolving threats and complex regulatory environments. The shift from deterministic to adaptive authentication has become central to securing transactions, especially in regions like Africa where mobile penetration is high and infrastructure can be fragmented. Additionally, most African cross-border payments still rely on external systems, introducing inefficiencies and costs. To improve security and efficiency, there’s a need for region-specific initiatives, enhanced governance frameworks, and innovative technologies like distributed ledger systems and AI. The future of secure cross-border payments in Africa lies in integrating security into the core financial architecture, ensuring better interoperability, and establishing shared standards across borders.