Breet is building payment infrastructure for Africa’s growing digital economy

Africa’s digital economy is growing, creating new opportunities for businesses to reach customers, offer services and process transactions beyond their domestic markets. According to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report, mobile technologies and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, representing 7.8% of the continent’s GDP. This contribution is projected to reach $290 billion by 2030, reflecting the increasing role of digital technologies in economic activity across the continent.

For fintech companies, online marketplaces, software providers and other digital businesses, this growth is opening opportunities to serve international customers. However, receiving payments, converting currencies and accessing funds across different markets remain significant challenges. Foreign exchange costs, settlement delays and multiple financial intermediaries can make cross-border transactions expensive and complicated.

According to the World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide database, the global average cost of sending remittances was 6.36%, with transfers to sub-Saharan Africa generally costing more. Although these figures relate to personal remittances rather than commercial payments, they illustrate the wider difficulties associated with moving money across borders.

These challenges have contributed to growing interest in alternative payment systems, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, whose prices can fluctuate significantly, stablecoins are designed to maintain a relatively stable value, often by being linked to currencies such as the US dollar.

According to Chainalysis, sub-Saharan Africa received more than $205 billion in on-chain cryptocurrency value between July 2024 and June 2025, representing a 52% increase from the previous year. Nigeria accounted for more than $92 billion of this activity, highlighting the growing adoption of digital assets across the region.

While cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are increasingly being explored for international payments, accepting them requires businesses to manage digital wallets, monitor transactions, convert currencies and settle funds. Building these systems independently can demand significant technical expertise and financial resources.

Bridging Africa’s Digital Payment Infrastructure Gap

This is the challenge financial technology company Breet is addressing through its crypto payment API, which enables fintech platforms, marketplaces, software providers and other businesses to accept cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments without developing the underlying payment infrastructure themselves.

Speaking on the challenges facing businesses operating across different markets, Kayode Faturoti, Chief Executive Officer of Breet, said:

“African businesses are increasingly building products for customers beyond their immediate markets, but the payment infrastructure available to them does not always reflect how they operate. A business may have international customers willing to pay, yet receiving those payments and accessing the funds can still be complicated. We believe businesses should be able to focus on serving their customers without having to solve every aspect of payment processing themselves.”

Through a single API integration, Breet enables businesses to receive supported cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and USDC, and convert payments into fiat currencies such as the Nigerian naira, Ghanaian cedi and US dollar, subject to available settlement options. The infrastructure also supports wallet generation, payment detection and transaction monitoring.

The CEO explained that the company’s approach is designed to reduce the technical demands associated with introducing digital currency payments.

“Building cryptocurrency payment infrastructure involves several moving parts, from wallet management and transaction monitoring to currency conversion and settlement. For many businesses, developing these capabilities independently would require significant investment. Our focus at Breet is to make this infrastructure accessible through an API, allowing businesses to introduce new payment options while concentrating on their core products.”

An example of this model is Breet’s partnership with Cardtonic, a digital financial services platform that integrated Breet Business API to enable customers to fund virtual dollar cards using stablecoins. According to figures provided by Breet, Cardtonic processed more than $100,000 in stablecoin card-funding transactions on its launch day and has since surpassed $5 million in cumulative transactions through the integration.

Beyond fintech platforms, similar opportunities exist for software companies receiving international subscription payments, digital marketplaces serving customers across different countries and businesses seeking to accommodate customers who prefer paying with digital assets.

However, accepting cryptocurrency is only one part of the payment process. Businesses still need access to local currencies to pay employees, suppliers and other operating expenses, making currency conversion and settlement important considerations.

“The real value of a cryptocurrency payment solution is not just that a customer can send money, but that the business receiving it can actually use those funds,” the CEO added. “A company accepting stablecoins may still need naira or cedis for its daily operations. That is why conversion and settlement are just as important as accepting the payment itself. At Breet, we are addressing this need by providing businesses with the infrastructure to receive digital currency payments, convert them into local currencies and access their funds without having to build these systems themselves”

Despite these opportunities, regulatory requirements, cybersecurity, liquidity and reliable settlement channels remain important considerations for businesses exploring digital currency payments. Their adoption will depend on customer demand, operational requirements and compliance with applicable financial regulations.

As Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, payment infrastructure capable of supporting different currencies and markets will become increasingly important. For Breet, the opportunity lies in making cryptocurrency and stablecoin payment capabilities more accessible, allowing businesses to participate in emerging digital payment opportunities without the cost and complexity of building their own systems.

More information is available through the Breet Business website, while businesses interested in integrating the technology can book an API consultation.

Also read: B2B crypto payments: The playbook for businesses already in, and the ones still deciding