MTN shareholders have backed the telecom giant’s $6.2 billion plan to acquire the rest of IHS Towers. MTN already owns 24.7% of IHS and is now moving to buy the remaining stake.

PalmPay is eyeing a Hong Kong IPO targeting a $1 billion valuation. The Africa-focused fintech is reportedly considering raising around $150 million to $200 million as it looks beyond its core African markets.

South Africa is considering a crypto rule that could put some cross-border transactions off-limits for local companies. Self-custody wallets could also face restrictions, adding another layer to the country’s evolving crypto regime.

Nigeria is taking its crypto tax collection on-chain. Under new guidelines, exchanges must collect a 1.5% stamp duty on qualifying transactions, with Bitcoin and USDT among the assets that can be used to pay it.

MTN Ghana’s profit jumped 43.3% to GHS5.1 billion ($435 million) in the first half of 2026, helped by growth in data and mobile money. EBITDA also climbed 39.8% to GHS9.3 billion ($793 million) as the separation of its fintech business starts to take shape.

Binance, Luno, Yellow Card, and VALR are preparing to apply for crypto licences in Kenya under the country’s new VASP rules. More firms are expected to join the queue as Kenya moves to formalise its digital-asset market.

Bolt has integrated its ride-hailing service with ChatGPT in South Africa, giving customers a conversational way to request trips.

Terra Industries and Miva Open University are setting up robotics and drone labs for students in Nigeria. Alongside hands-on training, the partnership will support research and practical work in areas including autonomous systems and unmanned aerial technology.

Kenyan commerce startup Cloud9 has acquired Chpter, less than a year after Chpter’s founders left the company. The acquisition gives Cloud9 control of a startup that built tools for businesses to sell through social and messaging platforms.

Pan-African payments startup Moment has raised $22 million in a Series A led by AlphaCode Venture Partners. With $55 million raised so far, Moment plans to expand its payment network and infrastructure across the continent.

Yellow Card has raised another $40 million as demand for stablecoin-powered payments grows. The funding takes its total equity financing above $120 million and will support its push beyond Africa into markets across Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Nigerian mobility fintech Moove has raised $250 million at a $2.1 billion valuation as it expands its autonomous-vehicle business. The raise would push Moove firmly into unicorn territory while giving the company more firepower for its global AV ambitions.

Cross-border payments often mean converting local currency into dollars, then converting it again at the other end. Tech Safari and Kora are bringing together the people building stablecoin rails in Africa to examine what changes when that extra step disappears. →Save your seat here.

On August 27, Tech Safari and Lua AI will unpack how leading teams organise their AI use, what a sensible setup costs, and how to build AI workflows that capture and compound what your team learns. →Register for the virtual event here.

The city's fintech ecosystem is growing 13–15% annually, with fintechs accounting for roughly 30% of Kenya's tech startups and nearly a quarter of its venture funding. The Africa Fintech and Banking Summit, taking place October 8–9, brings the people shaping that ecosystem into one room to debate regulation, payments, AI, open banking, financial inclusion, and where African fintech goes next. Register for the summit here.

VOVE ID has launched a programme to help African startups identify gaps in KYC, KYB, AML, and fraud controls before they slow fundraising, licensing, or market expansion. Applications for the first cohort close on August 20.

Founders Fund Africa has opened applications for its 2026 Creative Economy Accelerator, backing startups building across music, film and media, design, and creative tech. Selected founders will receive between $20,000 and $50,000 in funding, alongside hands-on support to help scale their businesses. Applications close August 28. 

Applications are now open for the iDICE Startup Bridge Growth Lab. It’s a 12-week accelerator for young Nigerian founders between the ages of 18 and 35 who are post-MVP and have some traction. The program offers upfront equity funding of $100,000 for selected participants, plus hands-on scaling support. Apply here by August 19th.