Hi, welcome to Tech This Evening, an After-Work Tech Newsletter from Techparley Africa. Sure, there is a lot to unpack right now. Sit back, while I walk you through.
Top Story: Do We Still Need PayPal in Africa After Years of Blacklisting?
After years of strained engagement with parts of Africa’s digital economy, PayPal is preparing a cautious return to the continent through a new initiative known as PayPal World.
The plan, expected to roll out in 2026, aims to connect local African digital wallets directly to PayPal’s global network, enabling wallet-to-wallet transfers rather than relying solely on card rails or traditional bank accounts.
For PayPal, the pitch is to simplify cross-border payments for consumers and small businesses in emerging markets by allowing interoperability between domestic wallets and its international platform.
For Africa’s fintech ecosystem, however, the announcement raises an uncomfortable but unavoidable question. After years of limited access, restrictions and perceived blacklisting, does Africa still need PayPal?
Other Tech News Stories You Should Read:
How NALA’s Expansion Into Ghana Could Transform How Money Moves Across Africa. Read now.
BasiGo Expands Beyond Nairobi With New Fast-Charging Station to Reduce Downtime for Kenya’s Electric Buses. Read now.
ChemLex Launches AI Self-Driving Drug Laboratory in Singapore Following $45 Million Funding Round. Read now.
On Startup Spotlight:
How MNZL Is Making Loans Accessible and Fast, as it Secures Egypt’s First Dual Digital Lending Licences
Egyptian fintech company, MNZL, has achieved a major milestone after securing approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) for the nation’s first fully digital mortgage licence and a digital consumer finance licence.
The dual authorisation makes MNZL the first entity in Egypt to hold both licences, signalling a transformative step for the country’s digital financial services ecosystem.
Sameh Saleh, Founder and CEO, highlighted the direct benefits for Egyptian families. He explained that by making secured lending digital, fast, and accessible, MNZL offers a safer and more affordable alternative to traditional financing options.
“By making secured lending digital, fast, and accessible, we’re offering a safer, more affordable alternative that finally unlocks the real wealth families already own,” Saleh said.
Quadri Adejumo brings you all the details. Read here.
Also Read:
South Africa’s Ezeebit Raises $2.05 Million to Power Crypto Payments and Stablecoin Adoption Across Africa. Yakub Abdulrasheed brings us the details, here.
Quote of the Day:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke.
Thank you for joining me yet again this evening. Stay safe, and see you tomorrow for the next tech newsletter.
Best, Quadri
