James Saruchera, co-founder of Afrik. (Image source: Afrik)

As Africa races to position itself within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the continent’s energy deficit continues to stall progress

While AI, cloud infrastructure and smart industry capture headlines, it is energy – reliable, accessible and decentralised – that underpins the viability of every digital innovation.

“Energy is no longer just a utility – it’s the bedrock of sovereignty in a digital world,” said James Saruchera, co-founder of Afrik, a decentralised finance infrastructure built to fund real-economy projects across Africa.

“We cannot talk seriously about AI readiness or smart manufacturing without first addressing the bottlenecks in energy access and financing.”

Saruchera, who recently attended the Global AI Summit on Africa in Rwanda, pointed to a growing consensus among African policymakers and innovators: without a radical rethink of how energy infrastructure is funded, the continent risks falling behind in the very technologies it seeks to lead.

Despite holding one of the world’s richest renewable energy profiles – including vast solar, hydro and geothermal potential – Africa remains hampered by traditional, centralised financing models that often prioritise external interests and short-term returns.

“The capital is out there. The technology is out there. What’s broken is the pathway between the two,” Saruchera said.

“Right now, we’re relying on legacy systems of financing that don’t match the speed or structure of our economies. They’re too slow, too opaque and too extractive.”

Afrik’s response has been to re-engineer the infrastructure around infrastructure.

By building a blockchain-based platform to facilitate secure, transparent investment into vetted energy and digital projects, Afrik enables both institutional and citizen investors to back infrastructure in a way that’s traceable, compliant and locally anchored.

“The premise is simple,” said Saruchera. “Africans should be able to invest in and benefit from the systems that will define their future. We’re not just solving for capital – we’re solving for trust, for ownership, and for longevity.”

Afrik’s model moves away from debt-heavy, donor-led development and towards pooled, participatory finance – where individuals, communities and institutions can collectively fund projects with full visibility over how money is spent and impact is delivered.

Crucially, Saruchera sees this as more than a tech play. It’s a policy tool.

“Afrik is already receiving strong engagement from innovation ministries, regulators and institutional funds that understand the need for alternatives,” he said.

“They know we need mechanisms that are fast, auditable and scalable – especially for midsize and off-grid projects that aren’t attracting enough traditional capital.”

Afrik’s pilot pipeline includes solar mini-grids, community-level battery storage and digital infrastructure – selected not for their PR value, but for their replicability and ability to bridge energy and data needs at the same time.

“We’re focusing on real utility, not vanity,” said Saruchera. “These are the kinds of projects that can support AI labs in Kigali, keep rural clinics online in Malawi, or power last-mile logistics in Lagos.”

Asked about the pace of adoption, Saruchera is pragmatic but optimistic.

“We’re not saying this replaces traditional finance overnight – but it complements it, fills gaps and builds systems of resilience from the ground up,” he said.

“What we’re proving is that Africa doesn’t have to wait for the world to catch up. We can build financing infrastructure that’s modern, agile and fundamentally designed for our own economic architecture.”

In an era where development models are being reimagined across the Global South, Afrik’s emergence reflects a broader shift: from dependency to design, from charity to capital, from exclusion to participation.

“Africa’s energy future will not just be green – it must be governed, funded and owned differently,” said Saruchera. “If we can fix how we finance our future, the rest will follow.”

Also read: Afrik ignites Africa’s borderless finance revolution with AI

The company has introduced its adaptable payment platform (CS+) to the South African market, bringing scalable, agile solutions tailored for business growth

Cross Switch, a prominent provider of cutting-edge payment technologies, has achieved a major milestone by obtaining its own Third-Party Payment Processor (TPPP) licence

Granted by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and backed by Absa, this licence positions Cross Switch as a more powerful player within South Africa’s payments framework. It follows closely on the heels of the company’s recent approval as a Visa Payment Facilitator (PayFac).

The company has introduced its adaptable payment platform (CS+) to the South African market, bringing scalable, agile solutions tailored for business growth. With this licence in place, Cross Switch is now authorised to onboard merchants, fintechs, and charitable organisations independently—significantly broadening its capabilities and reach within the country.

With this move, Cross Switch reaffirms its focus on delivering robust, compliant, and flexible payment services, custom-built for South Africa’s commercial and non-profit sectors.

Through its newly licensed status, Cross Switch offers merchants a versatile API that enables smooth transaction processing both within South Africa and across major African economies, including Kenya, Morocco, and Ivory Coast. For businesses exploring opportunities in Latin America, CS+ also supports markets such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile—with more destinations on the horizon.

“This is a vital step in expanding our network and strengthening our presence across the continent,” said Mark Chirnside, CEO of Africa, Cross Switch. “By enabling local merchants with multiple payment options, we’re empowering African businesses with the tools to reach broader markets and unlock growth opportunities.”

With a growing merchant base in South Africa and more than 1,000 businesses already using CS+ across Africa, Cross Switch is now poised to accelerate its local onboarding efforts and market integration. This strategic expansion will help South African enterprises tap into international payment options through a single, user-friendly API.

The company views this development as a key progression in its mission to offer modern, inclusive, and scalable payment solutions that address the needs of both enterprises and non-profits. Its dynamic platform supports business growth while promoting financial inclusion across the board.

“Investing in South Africa is a strategic priority for Cross Switch,” remarked Tim Davis, Group CEO of Cross Switch. “We’re resourcing up locally to ensure we’re ready to meet growing demand, and this licence and certification enable us to deliver world-class payment services that are both agile and scalable.”

Looking ahead, Cross Switch plans to fast-track product enhancement, broaden its payment capabilities, and integrate intelligent reconciliation engines—all built on a foundation of strong risk management and fraud protection.

James Saruchera, co-founder of Afrik. (Image source: Afrik)

Afrik introduced its decentralised financial and governance platform at the Global AI Summit in Rwanda, an exclusive gathering hosted by president Paul Kagame and the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)

Designed to drive Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Afrik enables the financing of green energy and AI-driven projects by leveraging blockchain and artificial intelligence. The platform creates a transparent funding mechanism through a globally tradable digital asset, opening up access to capital from both institutional and individual investors.

Empowering African innovation

“Africa is poised to lead global sustainability in the Fourth Industrial Age. The continent holds 30% of the world’s mineral resources, vast renewable energy potential, and a young, growing workforce. Moving beyond the outdated model of extractive economies, The Afrik Foundation aims to unlock capital to accelerate green innovation and energy projects,” commented James Saruchera, co-founder of Afrik. “By providing African nationals with financial leverage in global markets, Afrik fosters prosperity through greater transparency, governance, and security in investments.”

Afrik’s model empowers communities and governments to fund development on their own terms. “The Global AI Summit highlights the need for Africa to take ownership of its technological and economic destiny. AI, blockchain, and decentralised finance will define the continent’s next growth phase. Afrik is a solution that integrates these technologies to empower communities and governments to finance development on their own terms,” Saruchera adds.

Co-founder Jean-Marc Bourreau emphasised the platform’s innovation, “Afrik enables funding through a digital asset that is globally tradable, that includes innovative features, such as smart contracts, and that will help African economies to direct more resources towards the private sector involved in 4IR. The objective is to boost productivity in Africa and close the economic development gap with the most advanced economies. Afrik is about developing Africa at the speed of AI.”

Afrik has received support from prominent figures across fintech and policy. Arlinda Peixoto, CEO of Pagali, said, “Afrik aligns strongly with the need for African self-reliance and economic independence, leveraging digital transformation to break dependency on external financial structures. By integrating technology and finance, it positions Africa to take advantage of AI-driven economic models, blockchain technology, and decentralised financial systems. Crucially, the emphasis on broad discussions, feedback, and inclusivity suggests an effort to create a grassroots movement rather than imposing a top-down solution.”

Patrick Sergant, a leading lawyer in Dakar, called it “the most innovative instrument I have seen for the financing of Africa’s development.”

“Africa has the potential to lead in AI and digital infrastructure, but it must control the economic frameworks that power these sectors. Afrik offers a borderless financial model that allows African innovation to be funded by African capital. Afrik marks a pivotal shift toward an Africa-driven economic model built on financial sovereignty and equitable access to capital. The insights gained from the Global AI Summit will further inform Afrik’s mission as it prepares to introduce its funding platform to the market,” concluded Saruchera. 

Also read: Africa leads mobile money growth – GSMA report

PalmPay partners with Verve to launch its debit card in Nigeria, enhancing financial access for millions of users. (Image source: Palmpay)

PalmPay, a top digital bank and fintech platform focused on emerging markets, has introduced the PalmPay Debit Card in Nigeria through a collaboration with Verve, Africa’s largest domestic card network

This launch marks a significant step in PalmPay’s journey from being a mobile wallet known for fee-free transfers and cashback rewards to evolving into a full-service digital banking platform. Now offering a comprehensive financial ecosystem that includes payments, savings, credit, insurance, and card services, PalmPay continues to expand its reach.

Designed for Nigeria’s mass market, the PalmPay debit card offers innovative features such as savings interest on deposits and merchant rewards. With no maintenance fees, an easy in-app application process, and nationwide delivery, PalmPay aims to convert millions of its 35 million users into cardholders this year. The card, which supports both debit and contactless payments, is accepted at all Verve network merchants.

“This launch is another step forward in our mission to deliver accessible, reliable and rewarding financial services,” said Sofia Zab, chief marketing officer at PalmPay. “With the PalmPay Debit Card, we are expanding our ecosystem and enabling our users to pay and earn rewards at even more touch points, including across offline and online commerce. And for merchants, this opens up new opportunities to reach millions of Nigerian digital consumers and collaborate with us to build reward-driven experiences that boost loyalty and sales.”

In addition to the standard debit card, PalmPay is introducing PalmPay Premium, a new rewards program and card designed for high-volume users. It provides exclusive benefits such as priority customer support, advanced financial tools, and special merchant perks.

PalmPay has over 35 million users, a growing network of 1.1 million agents and merchants in Nigeria, and operations in Tanzania, Ghana, and Bangladesh. Processing up to 15 million transactions daily, PalmPay is developing a next-generation financial ecosystem aimed at empowering businesses and consumers in emerging markets.

“At PalmPay, we believe that building a thriving digital economy requires collaboration. From lending and insurance providers to card schemes like Verve, our ecosystem is powered by strategic partnerships,” said Jiapei Yan, chief commercial officer of PalmPay. “The launch of our debit card is another example of how we are combining cutting-edge technology with our partner strengths to deliver inclusive financial services at scale - and in doing so we empower businesses targeting Africa to grow faster, reach more customers and unlock more revenue streams.”

Vincent Ogbunude, managing director of Verve International, added, “We are proud to partner with PalmPay on this important milestone. Our alliance reflects our shared mission of accelerating financial inclusion and delivering payment innovation that meets the needs of African consumers.”

From zero-fee transfers and high-yield savings to instant credit, insurance, and now debit cards, PalmPay is redefining digital banking in emerging markets—offering a personalized, comprehensive, and inclusive financial experience. With its infrastructure, broad user base, and extensive reach, PalmPay provides international businesses with a trusted platform to scale in Africa’s fast-growing digital economy.