The world is constantly changing, and in an era of rapid digital transformation, the demand for seamless cross-border payments has never been more pressing.
Africa, with its burgeoning economies and youthful population, is at the forefront of this trend. In May 2025, a Financial Report: Africa Mobile Payments & Transactions Report 2025 reveals that the continent’s cross-border payment market is estimated to range from $329 billion to a total value of $1.3 trillion for 2025.
Against this backdrop, innovative cross-border payment companies are revolutionizing the way individuals and businesses send and receive money across borders, cutting costs, and increasing efficiency. One such company is Leatherback, which seemed set to capitalize on the vast potential of Africa’s cross-border payment market and beyond.
About Leatherback
Founded in 2019 by Nigerian entrepreneurs Ibrahim Ibitade and Dayo Amzat, Leatherback is a money remittance startup cutting its share of the global fintech market.
From its early beginnings in Lagos, Nigeria, the company has grown into a global banking service provider, offering seamless cross-border financial services for millions.
Leatherback is carving out a different position for itself by enabling individuals, businesses, and institutions to move money across countries swiftly, securely, and more affordably than traditional banking systems ever allowed.
For millions of users across Africa, Asia, and beyond, Leatherback to its trusted users isn’t just a fintech platform but a lifeline to opportunity, and economic independence.
The Mission
Situated at 65, Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Leatherback was initially founded to scale cross-border banking, particularly for users in Africa and other emerging markets.
“Imagine a world where you can easily make payments, send and receive money internationally, and carry out business with international clients and customers,” the company’s mission statement reads in part.
Today, the Nigerian-founded startup empowers users to navigate the global financial ecosystem with freedom and reach by erasing borders and bridging financial divides.
Growth and Milestone
Since its inception, the company has grown tremendously with impressive milestones. Today, Leatherback operates out of three continents and is regulated in five countries.
It has grown into a team of over 70 employees spread across various time zones, cultures, and skill sets, but united by a single mission: to redefine the global movement of money.
A Platform Built for Global Finance
As a product analyst, what sets Leatherback apart from its competition is its technology-first approach to financial inclusion.
- At the heart of its operation is a multi-currency platform that removes the complexity typically associated with international banking.
- With an international outlet at Marsh Wall, London, Leatherback allows users to send, receive, convert, and manage funds across 15+ currencies.
- Users can create multi-currency wallets, generate international IBANs, issue local bank accounts in multiple regions, and all with one login.
Use Case
For a freelancer in Nairobi, a Nigerian importer paying Chinese suppliers, or a UK-based business onboarding African talent, Leatherback removes barriers that conventional banks still struggle to overcome.
Why Leatherback Stands Out in a Crowded Fintech Space
Despite a surge in fintech innovation, Leatherback has distinguished itself not merely by joining the race but by charting a path few others have dared to take.
For a detailed empirical evaluation, and industry benchmarking, we provide below how the company continues to break ground and redefine expectations.
Unmatched Transaction Speed
At Techparley, we believe that speed is the currency of modern finance, and in this regard, Leatherback has set the gold standard. Unlike traditional banks, Leatherback has built its own cross-border infrastructure.
Through this facility, users can convert currencies and move funds almost instantly. For small businesses managing global supply chains or families relying on international remittances, this speed is transformative.
Better Rates and More Control
Where most global fintechs centralise their operations, Leatherback takes the opposite approach. The company strategically manages liquidity within each local market it serves.
By doing this, it avoids the pitfalls of foreign exchange markups set by third-party providers and gives users access to more competitive rates.
A Borderless Experience
Leatherback’s multi-currency platform is the backbone of its user experience. Supporting over 15 currencies, the platform allows individuals and businesses to hold, convert, and transact across borders.
This way, whether as a freelancer billing in GBP, a merchant sourcing products in INR, or a migrant worker sending money home in NGN, Leatherback brings global finance into a single, intuitive interface.
ALSO READ: Leatherback, 9 other cross-border money transfer startups
Talking Points
Leatherback’s future trajectory appears promising, driven by its ambitious plans to expand its footprint across multiple countries.
For one thing, its investments in cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-powered fraud detection and decentralized payment networks, may continue to make all the difference.
Additionally, Leatherback’s strategic partnerships with industry heavyweights like Stripe, CurrencyCloud, ClearBank, Plaid, Prime Trust, Yes Bank, Providus Bank, CFSB, 4Stop and others may help mitigate some of the risks associated with scaling a fintech business.
While the path ahead is not without challenges, Leatherback’s vision to democratize access to the global economy is compelling. And, if it continues to record success, the company’s innovative approach could lead to greater financial inclusion and more seamless cross-border transactions.
As always, expectations are high, and only time will tell if Leatherback’s bold aspirations will to translate into greater results. Will it deliver?
