Unipesa

28/05/2026

Just after GTR East Africa, our Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Unipesa, Pavel Laptev, headed to Nairobi for the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference 2026.

The conversations centered on a theme increasingly central to African commerce: how stablecoins and crypto liquidity are reshaping cross-border payments across the continent — and how regulated infrastructure can bridge digital assets with real-world money movement.

Pavel's takeaway from the event:

"The signal from Nairobi was clear — the future of cross-border payments in Africa runs through the intersection of regulated rails and digital-asset liquidity.

We had excellent conversations with Apollo Sande at Luno on liquidity corridors across East and Southern Africa, David Kimani at Afrex on stablecoin treasury solutions, the OKX team on bringing on/off-ramp infrastructure to more African markets, and Kimani Simon from SasaPay on expanding the presence across other countries and payment methods types.

What stood out was how ready the ecosystem is to build together — exchanges, liquidity providers and payment infrastructure all moving toward the same goal. Unipesa's footprint across 21+ markets — paired with bitlipa., which is already powered by Unipesa and extends our infrastructure into crypto and instant on/off-ramp services — puts us right where this convergence is happening."

A huge thank you to the KBCC organizers for bringing the region's blockchain and payments community together — and to the partners and industry peers we met.

Nairobi continues to prove itself as the beating heart of Africa's fintech and digital-asset innovation!

25/05/2026

Happy Africa Day!

Today is all about celebrating the incredible energy, resilience, and progress across the continent — values that inspire everything we do at Unipesa.

The digital momentum across Africa is undeniable, and and we are here to support it. By providing the white-label payment infrastructure that connects businesses, banks, and fintechs, we are committed to making regional transactions smoother, faster, and reliable.

Over a decade later, our team is still right here on the ground — working, learning, and growing alongside the local ecosystem. We do this because we truly believe in this continent. We love this land, and we are incredibly proud to be part of its story.

Here’s to the builders, innovators, and communities shaping the future. We love you, Africa! ❤️

22/05/2026

We are joining Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA) 2026 as an official partner. 🇰🇪

From June 2–4 in Nairobi, the continent’s leading regulators and experts gather to shape the future of African gaming. The lineup features top industry minds, including Musa Mngadi (African Lotteries & Gaming Association (ALGA)), Arinze Arum (Enugu State Gaming Commission), Pierre Otto (Gaming Laboratories International, LLC), Boipelo Lencwe (BMM Testlabs), and the team at Policy Vault — among many others.

For Unipesa, this event is a priority. As the landscape grows, compliance and cross-border scale depend entirely on solid payment infrastructure. We build that foundation, allowing operators to focus on growth while we handle the backend transaction complexities across 21+ African markets.

We are incredibly grateful to the organizers for putting this summit together. The team is looking forward to diving into the discussions, sharing our infrastructure strategies, and building long-term collaborations on the ground.

Will you be in Nairobi? Let's connect. 🤝

Book your ticket via the link in the first comment.

22/05/2026

On May 12–13, our Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Pavel Laptev, represented Unipesa at the Global Trade Review (GTR) East Africa conference in Nairobi.

The sessions focused heavily on the shift from traditional trade finance toward the digital-first reality of African commerce—a transition that is currently redefining how regional infrastructure is built.

Pavel's takeaway from the event:

"African trade finance is at an inflection point — banks and fintechs are no longer just discussing digital transformation, they're actively building it together.

I had the privilege of having in-depth conversations with Brendan Du Preez, Group Director of Trade Finance at Equity Bank Limited, Tema Vayavooree, Executive Vice-President at MCB Group, John Njoroge, Visa Country Manager for Kenya, and Winny C. Rutto-Too, Director of Visa Direct for Sub-Saharan Africa, Kevin Kilach from Stanbic Bank Kenya, as well as Ian M. Muriithi (CTFP) from Co-operative Bank of Kenya's Trade Finance team — among many others.

The alignment between what Unipesa delivers — payment infrastructure across 21 African markets — and what these institutions need was clear from every conversation. Looking forward to turning these connections into real partnerships."

A big thank you to the organizers for a seamless event, and to the partners and industry peers we met—the energy in Nairobi's tech ecosystem remains unmatched.

15/05/2026

In a session with Velex Hub, our Head of Business Development, Raphael Ndegwa, broke down why privacy has evolved from a compliance requirement into a genuine growth lever.

When clients and regulators have full clarity on how their data is managed, trust acts as a catalyst for scale rather than a barrier to entry.

For Unipesa, transparency is how we've been able to enter and settle into new markets with speed. 🚀

13/05/2026

Launching a PSP in Africa is often sold as a simple "gateway and API" task, but the reality is an infrastructure marathon. Between navigating fragmented mobile money routes and clearing central bank hurdles, the technical debt can pile up before you process your first transaction.

In our latest feature for NewsDay-Zimbabwe, we break down the 10 essential steps for fintech founders—from smart routing to the "infrastructure-as-a-service" shortcut.

Read the full roadmap here: https://www.newsday.co.zw/opinion-analysis/article/200053229/how-to-launch-a-payment-service-provider-in-africa-a-practical-guide-for-fintech-founders

How to launch a payment service provider in Africa: A practical guide for Fintech founders

05/05/2026

Integrating one payment provider is a task, connecting dozens across multiple countries is a challenge that can stall your growth.

Our latest feature in Global Africa Network Media explores why payment orchestration is now the essential infrastructure for scaling across the continent.

From navigating fragmented mobile money routes to using smart routing to slash transaction failure rates, orchestration is how modern fintechs scale without the technical debt.

👉 Read the full analysis here: https://www.globalafricanetwork.com/company-news/what-is-payment-orchestration-and-why-fintech-platforms-need-it/

HomeAfrica FocusWhat is payment orchestration and why fintech platforms need it What is payment orchestration and why fintech platforms need it Payment orchestration is not just another fintech feature. It is a core infrastructure layer that enables fintech platforms to manage, optimize, and scale p...

01/05/2026

Historically, Labour Day belonged to the industrial titans—the steelworkers who forged the physical world. Today, that front line has shifted to the innovators and visionaries building the digital rails of the future.

At Unipesa, we don't view this work as a chore—we see it as a craft.

May 1st isn’t a day to step back, but a moment to acknowledge the relentless energy that goes into rewriting the rules of African finance. We are builders by nature. We show up because we know that every line of code, every local integration, and every solved merchant hurdle brings the continent closer to a truly seamless economy.

The "Unipesa engine" doesn't run on luck, it runs on the expertise and the grit of a team that refuses to settle for "good enough."

From the West African mobile money corridors to the evolving digital landscapes in East Africa, we are proud to be the ones laying the tracks. This mission requires a specific kind of dedication, and it’s one we embrace fully.

To the founders, the developers, the partners, and the operators who are in the trenches with us: your hustle is the heartbeat of this industry.

Let's value the work we do today, because it is the foundation of what Africa becomes tomorrow.

Happy Labour Day from the Unipesa team. 🤝

30/04/2026

Our latest update is now live in the Unipesa Journal!
Check it out 👇

March was a month of reinforcing the foundations. While the headlines often focus on the "new," we spent these 31 days focusing on the "robust"—ensuring that as our partners scale, the infrastructure beneath them doesn't just keep up, but leads the way.

29/04/2026

Nairobi is a city that doesn't sit still, and neither does the East African gaming market. 🇰🇪

Our Head of Business Development, Raphael Ndegwa, headed to the Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit 2026 last week to dive into the future of the region's gaming and payment ecosystem. For Unipesa, these events are about the real-world conversations that happen between sessions—the kind that help us understand how to better support localized, digital-first growth.

Raphael shared his thoughts on the experience:

"This is exactly the energy Africa's gaming industry needs.

The Summit was more than a conference — it was a signal. Mobile-first markets, digital payments, and a young, engaged population make East Africa one of the most compelling gaming frontiers globally.

The startup pitch backed by EGT Digital is a smart move — innovation doesn't happen in boardrooms alone. It happens when you fund bold ideas at the ground level.

Congratulations to all the award winners and to Eventus International for another landmark edition. Africa is building."

The summit is over, but the momentum is clearly only starting! 🚀

Great to catch up with so many partners and innovators on the ground: Geoffrey Muindi (MCIM) Amalya Danielyan Maurice Bisungo Joash Ajuoga

22/04/2026

Next stop: Nairobi, Kenya for SBEA+ 2026. 🇰🇪

Starting today and running through April 24th, our Head of Business Development, Raphael Ndegwa, is representing Unipesa at the 11th Annual Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit.

While the event is a hub for gaming innovation, we know that success in this industry always relies on one core thing: seamless, reliable payments. Raphael is on the ground at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi to discuss how our infrastructure helps navigate regional frameworks and scale operations across East Africa.

If you are here, let’s skip the formal emails and catch up in person. See you in Nairobi! ☕