LAGOS, Nov. 7, 2026 — Flutterwave has been named Africa’s Best Payments Infrastructure Provider at the Euromoney Transaction Banking Awards 2026, as the Nigerian-founded financial technology company accelerates its expansion beyond payment processing into banking, multicurrency services and stablecoin-based transactions.
In a statement released on Friday, November 6, Flutterwave said the award recognised its efforts to connect Africa’s fragmented financial markets and facilitate cross-border transactions for businesses operating across the continent and internationally.
The recognition comes as Flutterwave celebrates its tenth anniversary and seeks to position itself as a broader financial infrastructure provider, reflecting growing competition among African fintech companies to capture a larger share of the continent’s digital financial services market.
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave has developed technology that connects local payment systems, banking networks and international payment channels through a single platform, allowing businesses to accept payments and operate across multiple jurisdictions.
The company said it had processed more than 1bn transactions valued at over $50bn since its establishment and now serves approximately 4mn individuals and businesses, ranging from small enterprises to multinational corporations.
The figures highlight the increasing importance of digital payment infrastructure in Africa, where differences in national banking systems, currencies and regulatory frameworks have historically complicated cross-border commerce.
Olugbenga Agboola, Flutterwave’s founder and chief executive, described the Euromoney recognition as a milestone for the company as it enters its second decade.
“When we started Flutterwave in 2016, our ambition was to make it easier for African businesses to move money and participate in the global economy,” Agboola said.
He added that the company was increasingly focused on developing financial infrastructure extending beyond conventional payment processing.
“We are continuing to evolve beyond payments, building a more comprehensive financial infrastructure that brings together payments, banking, stablecoin capabilities and other financial services to help businesses and individuals move, manage and access money more efficiently,” he said.
Banking and open finance expansion
Flutterwave’s strategy reflects a broader shift in Africa’s fintech industry, where payment providers are increasingly pursuing opportunities in banking, financial data services and international money transfers.
The company highlighted its acquisition of Mono, an open banking technology provider, and the securing of a Nigerian microfinance banking licence as important steps towards developing an integrated financial services ecosystem.
Mono’s technology provides infrastructure for connecting financial accounts and accessing banking data, capabilities that could support Flutterwave’s expansion into financial products beyond merchant payments.
The microfinance banking licence could also provide a foundation for offering additional regulated financial services in Nigeria, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
Together, the developments signal Flutterwave’s intention to deepen its involvement in the financial activities of businesses and consumers rather than remain primarily a payment processing intermediary.
The company is also investing in multicurrency services, seeking to simplify how businesses receive international payments, manage funds in different currencies and settle transactions across markets.
Such capabilities could become increasingly important as African companies expand their international operations and seek alternatives to costly or fragmented cross-border banking arrangements.
Stablecoins emerge as strategic priority
Flutterwave is also developing stablecoin-powered payment and settlement infrastructure, reflecting growing interest in blockchain-based financial systems as an alternative channel for international money movement.
The company pointed to strategic investments from Ripple and Circle as supporting its ambitions in digital asset infrastructure.
Stablecoins, digital tokens generally designed to maintain a stable value relative to an underlying asset such as the US dollar, have attracted increasing attention for their potential to facilitate faster international settlements.
For African businesses, the technology could offer additional options for moving money between markets, although adoption remains dependent on regulatory approval, liquidity, operational reliability and integration with existing financial systems.
Flutterwave said its stablecoin capabilities were intended to complement traditional payment networks rather than replace them.
The company’s broader strategy is to combine conventional payments, banking services, multicurrency management and blockchain-based settlement infrastructure within a connected platform.
The approach could strengthen its position in a competitive African fintech market, although expanding into regulated banking and digital asset services also introduces additional compliance and operational requirements.
Flutterwave was also included in CNBC and Statista’s 2026 ranking of the world’s top 250 fintech companies, while Agboola was recognised among Fintech Magazine’s top 100 fintech leaders.
The Euromoney award comes as Flutterwave seeks to build on a decade of growth and establish itself as a financial infrastructure provider serving African businesses and international companies seeking access to the continent’s markets.
Its next phase will test whether the company can translate its existing payments network into a broader financial services business while navigating the regulatory complexity of operating across multiple African jurisdictions.
For Flutterwave, the longer-term ambition is to create an integrated system through which businesses can collect payments, access banking services, manage multiple currencies and transfer funds internationally without relying on separate financial providers.
The expansion underscores the growing strategic importance of financial infrastructure in Africa’s digital economy, as technology companies compete to reduce barriers to trade, improve settlement efficiency and connect the continent more closely with global financial markets.
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