📱Airtel Money Hits $145bn in Transactions, Sets Sights on 2026 IPO

Today’s Menu ☕️

📱Airtel Money Hits $145 Billion in Transactions, Sets Sights on 2026 IPO
💰Gates Foundation to Donate $200 Billion in 20 Years Under New Giving Plan
📱PalmPay Hits 15 Million Daily Transactions, Eyes Expansion Across Africa in 2025
🤖 Apple’s AI Search Ambitions Signal Major Threat to Google’s Search Dominance
🪙 Stripe Launches Stablecoin Accounts in 100 Countries, Including Several in Africa

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📱 MOBILE FINANCIAL SERVICES

Airtel Money Hits $145 Billion in Transactions, Sets Sights on 2026 IPO

Airtel Money, the mobile financial services arm of Airtel Africa, has quietly become one of the most significant players in African fintech. In its latest fiscal year, which ended March 2025, the company posted $145 billion in annualized transaction value—nearly double the GDP of Ghana.

Once an ancillary offering bundled with mobile airtime, Airtel Money is now central to the Group’s growth narrative. Its 29.9% revenue growth (in constant currency) and rising contribution—now 20.3% of Airtel Africa’s total revenue—signal a broader shift underway in the continent’s digital economy: telcos are no longer just pipes; they are platforms.

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📱FINANCIAL SERVICES

PalmPay Hits 15 Million Daily Transactions, Eyes Expansion Across Africa in 2025

PalmPay, one of Nigeria’s leading fintech players, has kicked off 2025 with strong momentum—crossing 15 million daily transactions in the first quarter, up sharply from the 10 million it averaged daily in 2024. The milestone was revealed during a press conference and media roundtable to highlight the company’s Q1 performance, marking a significant leap in usage and engagement within Nigeria’s competitive mobile money ecosystem.

The fintech also disclosed that it now boasts 35 million users, with each user making an average of 50 transactions monthly....……continue reading

💰 FUNDING

Gates Foundation to Donate $200 Billion in 20 Years Under New Giving Plan

In a significant shift from its original long-term strategy, the Gates Foundation has unveiled an ambitious plan to donate approximately $200 billion over the next two decades. This decision marks a departure from the foundation’s initial intent to operate several decades beyond the lifetimes of its co-founders, Bill and Melinda Gates.

Since its inception in 2000, the Gates Foundation has been at the forefront of addressing global health challenges, poverty alleviation, and educational disparities. Over the past 25 years, it has disbursed more than $100 billion towards initiatives aimed at improving lives worldwide. The new plan aims to double this figure by 2045, effectively accelerating the foundation’s philanthropic efforts in response to pressing global needs.....……continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Apple’s AI Search Ambitions Signal Major Threat to Google’s Search Dominance

Apple is preparing a major shake-up in the world of web search—one that could upend the current balance of power and cause lasting tremors across the digital advertising landscape. During a pivotal testimony at Google’s antitrust trial this week, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, revealed that the company is “actively looking” to integrate AI-powered search options into its Safari browser, a move that may eventually displace Google as the default search engine on iPhones.

The news sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, saw its shares drop by 7.3%, erasing about $150 billion from its market value in a single day. Apple’s stock also slipped slightly, falling by 1.1%.......continue reading

🪙 CRYPTOCURRENCY

Stripe Launches Stablecoin Accounts in 100 Countries, Including Several in Africa

Stripe Inc., the global payments giant, is entering a bold new chapter—launching stablecoin-funded accounts in over 100 countries. For African businesses, this marks a major opportunity to leapfrog legacy banking challenges and participate in a faster, more stable, and borderless financial ecosystem.

At the heart of this offering are two stablecoins: USDC, issued by Circle, and USDB, a new stablecoin from Bridge—the stablecoin orchestration platform recently acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion. These digital currencies, pegged to the US dollar, allow merchants to hold balances and transact across currencies and geographies with less exposure to volatility and friction.......continue reading

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