Africa’s digital finance revolution is accelerating. Yet, with 57% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population remaining unbanked, fragmented regulations, inconsistent compliance standards, and limited eKYC infrastructure cost fintechs millions of dollars in duplicated efforts each year, threatening the promise of a truly integrated financial ecosystem. Building a harmonized framework for digital identity, oversight, and innovation is now urgent to unlock cross-border growth and financial inclusion at scale. With over $137 million in new funding, a rapidly expanding user base across West Africa, and the recent rollout of its Visa prepaid card in pilot phase, Wave is redefining access to digital finance through affordability, simplicity, and innovation. This session will explore how optimized compliance, interoperable eKYC, and coordinated regulation can power Africa’s next chapter of financial inclusion and integration.
Key Points:
- From siloed KYC to interoperable eKYC: What concrete steps are needed to build shared identity infrastructure that functions across markets?
- Balancing speed and safeguards: How can regulators streamline licensing and compliance without compromising consumer protection?
- Blueprint for integration: Which lessons from regional frameworks—such as WAEMU zones—can be adapted continent-wide to enable seamless digital finance?