Tag Archives: Economy

20Sep/26

XRP Powers Stripe’s New Payment Standard

Ripple Connects XRP Ledger to Stripe via Machine Payments Protocol

Sun 20 Sept 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The XRPL AI Starter Kit version 1.1 serves as the software framework enabling this connection by adding support for both the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) and the Open Wallet Standard. Originally launched in June, this updated developer resource incorporates MPP—a protocol co-authored by Stripe and Tempo, a payment-focused blockchain that launched its mainnet in March. Continue reading →

08Sep/26

African Payment Pitfalls and $25,000 Tax Traps

The Three Pillars of African Payments

Tue Sep 08 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — For a student entering the world of fintech, the African payment landscape can initially seem overwhelming. Unlike Western markets where credit cards are the standard, the African ecosystem is built on a “Hybrid Imperative.” In markets like Zambia, global tools like Stripe are often used for international billing, but they lack localized settlement and struggle with poor conversion rates due to bank-side fraud rules. To reach the actual local consumer, businesses must tap into the infrastructure that people already use: mobile money.The ecosystem is supported by three primary players:

  1. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs):  The foundational infrastructure providers that issue digital wallets and manage the movement of local currency.
  2. Payment Gateways:  Intermediaries that bridge the gap between global standards and local methods across multiple countries.
  3. Payment Aggregators:  Specialized “simplifiers” that bundle multiple mobile money connections into a single, developer-friendly interface.Learning Insight: The “So What?”  While credit and debit cards are the global gold standard for SaaS, they represent only a minor fraction of transactional volume in many African nations. In the retail ecosystem of Southern Africa, mobile money is the dominant force. Understanding how to connect to these networks is the key to unlocking the market.While these three pillars work together, the journey starts at the foundational “source”: the MNOs.

Continue reading →

09Feb/26

The Rise of the Autonomous Economy: AI Agents and Blockchain Converge to Redefine Finance in 2026

10 Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media  — Ripple will unveil its 2026 Roadmap on February 11, focusing on integrating XRP into capital markets. Key updates include smart contracts, zero-knowledge proofs for privacy, and cross-chain liquidity. These advancements aim to drive institutional adoption and utility. Continue reading →

23Jun/23

Is zambia the cinderella of Africa, poor indebted by wicked China and saved by the western prince?

23 June 2023 /Economy/– Zambia’s recent debt restructuring deal with its creditors is a major step forward for the country’s economy. The deal will allow Zambia to access much-needed financial resources to help it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and stimulate economic growth.

In the short term, the deal will likely lead to a decrease in Zambia’s debt servicing costs, which will free up funds that can be used for other purposes, such as infrastructure development and social programs. This will help to boost economic growth and improve living standards for Zambians. Continue reading →

21Jun/23

Europe cannot survive without Africa

June 21, 2023 /World/ — The statement that “Europe cannot survive without Africa” is a bit of an exaggeration. While Europe does rely on Africa for a number of resources, it is not entirely dependent on the continent. However, it is true that Africa plays an important role in the European economy.

Here are some of the ways in which Africa contributes to the European economy: Continue reading →

20Jun/23

Anyone.com unveils new mortgage model, unleashing the transformative potential of a more inclusive path to homeownership for millions of people

In response to the global housing affordability crisis, Anyone.com today unveiled a groundbreaking solution that aims to redefine the future of the housing market: The Anyone Mortgage. This novel model, designed to bridge the ever-widening gap between income stagnation and skyrocketing house prices, promises to make homeownership accessible again, especially for the often currently neglected demographic of first-time buyers and lower-income households. Continue reading

20Jun/23

Africa is not a jungle, it’s an innovation hub

June 20, 2023 /Business/ — Africa is the second-most populous continent in the world, with over 1.3 billion people. The continent’s economy is also growing rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 5.5%. This means that there is a huge potential market for African startups. Africa is a continent with a lot of diversity, both in terms of its people and its economies. This can present both challenges and opportunities for businesses. However, the opportunities are significant, and there are a number of government initiatives in place to support innovation. Continue reading →

19Jun/23

US regulators continue crypto crackdown – but here’s why the latest charges are different

Andrew Urquhart, University of Reading

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase shortly after launching a lawsuit against the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

This isn’t the first time Binance and Coinbase have caught the SEC’s attention – it’s not even the first time this year. But the latest charges are much more serious, including accusations that the exchanges are operating without the correct registration.

Continue reading →

19Jun/23

Moniepoint Empowers Nigeria’s Underbanked Businesses With Financial Services Enabled by Google Cloud

Google Cloud announced today a new collaboration with Moniepoint, an Africa-focused business banking platform that provides financial services to Nigeria’s underbanked businesses residing in remote areas and communities. The collaboration makes financial services accessible at scale to millions of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by bridging the banking gap in suburban locations. Continue reading

06Jun/23

Flutterwave and Token.io Team Up to Provide Pay By Bank Transfer to Users in UK and EU

Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has collaborated with Token.io, Europe’s leading account-to-account (A2A) payment infrastructure provider, to power Pay By Bank transfer capabilities for Flutterwave’s platform. The announcement was made today at the Money20/20 Europe fintech conference in Amsterdam. Continue reading