The African tech ecosystem recorded significant milestones in 2025, marked by major funding rounds, global partnerships, regulatory actions, leadership controversies, and infrastructure breakthroughs. From artificial intelligence and fintech expansion to policy debates and market consolidation, the year reflected both the growing influence and the complex realities of technology development across the continent.
Below is a month-by-month breakdown of the biggest moments in African tech in 2025.
January: Nigerian Founder Appointed to OpenAI Board
The year began with a historic milestone as Adebayo Ogunlesi, a Nigerian-born global investor and infrastructure expert, became a board member at OpenAI. His appointment signaled increased African representation in global artificial intelligence leadership and governance, highlighting the continent’s growing relevance in conversations around future technologies.
February: Global Spotlight on Nigeria–Binance Dispute
In February, U.S.-based publication Wired released an exposé detailing Nigeria’s handling of the Binance case, particularly involving executive Tigran Gambaryan. The report drew international attention to Nigeria’s crypto regulatory environment and sparked broader discussions on digital asset regulation, state authority, and global crypto platforms operating in emerging markets.
March: Cassava Technologies Partners with Nvidia
Africa’s push into artificial intelligence infrastructure gained momentum in March when Cassava Technologies partnered with Nvidia to launch AI factories across the continent. The initiative aims to provide advanced computing power to governments, enterprises, and researchers, helping close Africa’s AI infrastructure gap and accelerate local innovation.
April: Paystack’s Zap Fined by Central Bank of Nigeria
Regulatory enforcement took center stage in April as Paystack’s instant payment app, Zap, was fined over 250 million by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The penalty highlighted ongoing tensions between rapid fintech innovation and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s evolving financial ecosystem.
May: MaxAB-Wasoko Acquires Fatura
In a major regional expansion move, newly merged B2B commerce startup MaxAB-Wasoko acquired Egyptian fintech company Fatura. The acquisition strengthened the company’s footprint within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, reinforcing consolidation trends across Africa’s startup ecosystem.
June: LemFi Acquires UK Fintech Pillar
Cross-border fintech expansion continued in June as LemFi acquired UK-based credit fintech Pillar. The acquisition enabled LemFi to build credit infrastructure for immigrants, extending financial access to African diasporas and strengthening ties between African fintechs and global financial markets.
July: Ethiopia Launches First Locally Issued Credit Card
July marked a breakthrough for financial services in East Africa as Ethiopia launched its first locally issued credit card. The development disrupted the long-standing dominance of mobile money, signaling diversification in the country’s payment ecosystem and progress toward broader financial inclusion.
August: Chowdeck Raises $9 Million
Logistics and food delivery startup Chowdeck raised $9 million in August to expand dark stores and reduce delivery times. The funding round reflected continued investor confidence in startups solving Africa-specific infrastructure and logistics challenges.
September: Paga Expands to the United States
In September, Nigerian fintech giant Paga expanded into the U.S. market, partnering with a U.S. bank to offer financial services tailored to immigrants. The move represented a strategic push into diaspora-focused financial solutions and global expansion for African fintech companies.
October: Moniepoint Raises $90 Million
October saw one of the year’s largest funding announcements as Moniepoint raised $90 million, completing its Series C round. The investment further solidified Moniepoint’s position as a leading fintech player in Africa and underscored sustained global investor interest in Nigerian startups.
November: Paystack Co-Founder Exit Sparks Industry Debate
In November, Paystack terminated co-founder Ezra Olubi following the resurfacing of past offensive tweets. The incident sparked widespread debate across the tech ecosystem around leadership accountability, corporate values, and public conduct in the digital age.
December: PayPal’s Africa Return Faces Pushback
The year concluded with controversy as PayPal’s attempted return to the African market was met with resistance from users. Many cited the company’s previous restrictive and discriminatory policies toward African accounts, highlighting growing demands for fairness, inclusion, and trust in global fintech platforms.
In conclusion, from AI infrastructure investments and fintech expansion to regulatory challenges and leadership controversies, 2025 was a defining year for African technology. The events of the year reflect an ecosystem that is maturing, increasingly global, and unafraid to challenge old systems while building new ones.
As Africa continues to scale its innovation capacity, the moments of 2025 will likely shape policy decisions,
investor confidence, and technological progress for years to come