New market entries, new hires and SME-focused collaborations unlock scale for Africa’s $1.5 trillion digital payments opportunity Mastercard has grown its acceptance network across Africa by45 percent in 2025– a major milestone that brings millions more consumers and small businesses into the continent’s fast-expanding digital economy.This accelerated progress underscores the strong advancement of digital payments, technology, and innovation in Africa—a transformation that traditionally would have taken several years to accomplish. Mastercard has grown its acceptance network across Africa by – a major milestone that brings millions more consumers and small businesses into the continent’s fast-expanding digital economy. This accelerated progress underscores the strong advancement of digital payments, technology, and innovation in Africa—a transformation that traditionally would have taken several years to accomplish.
The surge comes in a year defined by new market entries, significant investment, product innovation and an expanded on-ground presence—efforts that reinforce Mastercard’s role in powering Africa’s projected$1.5 trillion digital payments market by 2030. The surge comes in a year defined by new market entries, significant investment, product innovation and an expanded on-ground presence—efforts that reinforce Mastercard’s role in powering Africa’s projected Mastercard Deepens African Footprint with New Markets, New Teams Over the past two years, Mastercard has accelerated its Africa expansion, opening new offices inGhana, Uganda and Mauritius, with the aim of further markets set for launch in 2026. The companyalso grew its employee base by almost 20% across the continent, strengthening local capabilities and enabling co-creation of solutions tailored to the needs of African communities and merchants.
Over the past two years, Mastercard has accelerated its Africa expansion, opening new offices in , with the aim of further markets set for launch in 2026. Alongside its footprint expansion, Mastercardadvanced key digital infrastructure—including tokenization upgrades, digital identity capabilities and virtual card enhancements—to bolster trust, safety and convenience across online and in-person payments.
