BitKE

Fawry's Buy Now, Pay Later service has reached EGP 1 billion in disbursements within a year of launch, leveraging a large customer base and innovative services. As Egypt's largest e-payment platform, Fawry supports financial inclusion for both banked and unbanked populations.

Flutterwave has obtained a Payment Systems Operator license from the Bank of Uganda, enabling it to provide various payment solutions in the country. This move supports its vision for a connected Africa and follows the acquisition of similar licenses in Ghana and Mozambique, enhancing its capabilities across the continent and in the U.S.

Ivory Coast fintech startup Djamo raised $17 million for expansion in mobile banking services across Francophone Africa, aiming to enhance financial inclusion for the underserved and accelerate growth in the region.

ECOWAS finance ministers and central bank governors have revived plans for the ECO, a single currency aimed at enhancing economic integration and stability in the region. The initiative seeks to reshape the economic landscape despite past challenges and regional instability.

MoniePoint, one of Nigeria’s leading business payments and banking services platform, has secured an investment from VISA, the digital payments company said in a press release.
MoniePoint, which raised $110 million in October 2024 to become one of few African unicorns, has emerged as one of the

Cognition has introduced Devin, the world's first AI software engineer, capable of completing engineering tasks and navigating job interviews. While praised for its advanced capabilities, concerns about complexity and job displacement persist. Devin may enhance collaboration between AI and human engineers.

ENS has partnered with GoDaddy to connect traditional domain names with the blockchain. This integration allows over 20 million GoDaddy users to access ENS benefits, including cryptocurrency payment capabilities.

WiCrypt Network, a decentralized mobile internet sharing platform in Nigeria, secured a $150,000 grant from Microsoft to enhance its operations. The network allows users to monetize spare WiFi bandwidth while accessing the internet securely through decentralized hotspots.

A total of 16 African startups are part of 200 startups that will be showcasing their products at the TechCrunch 2023 Startup Battlefield, described as an invitation-only cohort of game-changing early-stage startups.
Out of the 16, two of the startups are leveraging blockchain as the technology

Luno has become the first licensed crypto service provider in South Africa, authorized by the FSCA under new regulations for crypto assets. This milestone highlights the importance of regulatory compliance in fostering a secure and innovative crypto environment.

Seven South African startups and one from Lesotho are selected for the Grindstone Africa accelerator, aimed at fostering high-growth entrepreneurship. The program supports innovative companies in scaling operations, with a focus on market access readiness.

CMA Kenya has admitted Infiniti n Beyond Limited into its Regulatory Sandbox for testing the OwnMali blockchain real estate tokenization platform, aiming to enhance property investment accessibility. This marks a significant step for blockchain startups in Kenya.

The Runes protocol by Casey Rodarmor allows for the creation of altcoins on the Bitcoin blockchain, enhancing token generation efficiency. Following Bitcoin's halving, it aims to attract users and increase block space demand, potentially boosting transaction fees.

MetaMask has launched a 'sell' feature in its mobile app, allowing users to easily exchange crypto for cash, including options like Vodafone Cash in Egypt. This new addition simplifies transactions while reducing fees and enhancing speed.

Fingo Africa, a YC-backed neobank, is launching in Kenya after securing regulatory approval. It aims to offer significantly reduced fees for financial services to Africa's youth and streamline bank account access within minutes. Partnered with Ecobank, it plans a pan-African rollout.

The Bank of Ghana is developing its CBDC, eCedi, using a token-based model on the Hedera Hashgraph network, differentiating it from other CBDCs like eNaira. The eCedi allows offline access and will be distributed through banks and merchants. An eCedi hackathon is also scheduled for Fall 2023 to foster innovation.