Business Report Economy

Cross-border payments set to transform African trade by 2026

Ashley Lechman|Published

As we approach 2026, the push for a seamless cross-border payment ecosystem has the potential to not only accelerate trade but also foster economic growth across Africa. Business owners would do well to prepare for the upcoming changes, ensuring they are not left behind in this evolutionary leap.

Image: Wise

As African businesses navigate an increasingly interconnected world, the future of cross-border payments looks poised for revolutionary change.

With the emergence of advanced technology, regulatory frameworks, and innovative stablecoin systems, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year in facilitating Pan-African trade.

Verto, a leading cross-border payments company, has unveiled its key predictions for the payments landscape in 2026, highlighting a significant shift towards enhanced technological and regulatory interoperability.

According to James Booth, Head of Revenue at Verto, we are on the brink of a "golden age" for African businesses, driven by a convergence of new payment infrastructures and stronger compliance frameworks.

“We are at a crucial inflection point,” Booth remarked.

“The days of merely masking latency through intelligent netting and liquidity optimisation are coming to an end. The next leap towards true real-time cross-border payments will be driven by a successful ecosystem that is natively interoperable across regions and underpinned by robust, trusted compliance.”

Three core areas of transformation

Booth identifies three pivotal areas that are set to redefine the payments landscape for fintech and enterprise clients:

  • The dawn of the currency-agnostic settlement system: 2026 will herald a payment infrastructure that adeptly switches between traditional and digital payment rails. “A truly successful system will feature multiple rails behind the scenes,” Booth explained, envisioning a hybrid system where businesses can dynamically choose between traditional banking methods and stablecoin options for optimal efficiency. This blended approach, according to Booth, is the key to unlocking real-time settlement.
  • Embedded finance solutions: Verto believes that cross-border payment processes will soon be seamlessly integrated into everyday operations across various sectors in Africa. “I’m quite big on embedded solutions,” Booth noted. By incorporating financial products and services—such as multi-currency accounts directly into the platforms that businesses already use—interoperability across the African payment ecosystem is set to soar.
  • Compliance and trust as the ultimate accelerator: In Africa, regulatory alignment paired with trust is transforming from a formidable challenge into a competitive advantage. Booth emphasises the importance of a transparent compliance framework: “If you can trust the network and can discern what is real, that’s when you see mass adoption.” Achieving effective regulation alongside emerging payment rails is critical for establishing a reliable cross-border network.

For African businesses looking to expand, Booth’s advice is clear: “Lean into it. Now is the time to start laying the foundation to build a more Pan-African business.”

With the groundwork being laid in technology and regulatory landscapes, a continent-wide solution is not merely a possibility; it’s becoming an imminent reality.

“We are in the golden age of cross-border trade, and it’s only going to accelerate,” he affirmed.

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