Mastercard and Scale are advancing their collaboration to simplify how fintech companies and non-financial institutions launch card-based payment solutions across Africa, introducing a unified integration model designed to accelerate market entry across Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Mastercard describes the move as a progression from the companies' 2024 announcement to tangible market enablement. The single integration approach is meant to replace the often slow and complex process of coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including payment networks, BIN sponsors and issuing banks.

STREAMLINING AFRICA'S CARD ECOSYSTEM

Across many African markets, organizations seeking to offer card-based payment solutions must coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including payment networks, BIN sponsors and issuing banks, a process that is often slow and complex. Mastercard provides access to its global payment network, market expertise, and established relationships with banks, while Scale delivers issuing infrastructure, customer onboarding, and regulatory support. Together, they are creating a single integration approach for businesses to navigate card programme launches.

"Across Africa, innovators are creating powerful solutions, yet many are slowed down by the complex steps required to issue cards, which has a significant impact on their business, the market, and their growth," said Miranda Naidoo, Co-Founder and CEO of Scale. "This collaboration with Mastercard removes those hurdles by giving businesses one clear, efficient way to enter the market and scale. It is a major shift that allows innovators to focus on what they do best, building products that meet real customer needs and drive meaningful progress across the continent, while we do the rest."

The unified integration capability is designed to help innovators bring both virtual and physical card programmes to market more efficiently, reducing the complexity traditionally associated with launching issuing services. By streamlining onboarding, processing, and compliance requirements, the platform enables businesses to focus on customer-centric solutions while the combined platform manages operational delivery.

EXPANDING DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Mete Guney, Executive Vice President of Market Development for Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard, described the next step.

"Today marks an important progression from our 2024 announcement to tangible market enablement," Guney said. "By simplifying the issuing journey, we are supporting fintechs and non-financial institutions as they expand access to digital financial services and bring more consumers and businesses into the formal economy."

According to TechCabal, in Kenya the partnership mainly reduces complexity for existing fintechs, while in the less card-saturated markets of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Zambia and Zimbabwe it enables new products such as companion wallet cards and corporate spending solutions.

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING IN DIGITAL PAYMENTS

Separately, Mastercard agreed on 17 March to acquire stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK for up to $1.8 billion.

Scale is a South African card-issuing start-up founded in 2022 by Barbara Woollams and Miranda Naidoo; it raised $700,000 in October 2024 to grow its platform.

The collaboration creates a more accessible pathway for businesses to introduce secure, scalable card programmes tailored to local market needs.