Nigerian fintech company Payaza has expanded its operations into Australia and New Zealand to strengthen its global cross-border payment network and support trade between emerging markets and international businesses.
The expansion follows four months of regulatory work, with the company securing approvals required to provide payment services in both markets.
In New Zealand, Payaza is now registered as an Authorized Money Service Business, allowing it to facilitate remittances and foreign exchange services.
In Australia, the fintech has secured registrations as an Independent Remittance Dealer, Digital Currency Exchange Provider, and Virtual Asset Service Provider.
The approvals allow Payaza to support cross-border payments, currency exchange services, and selected virtual asset transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
Payaza targets Australia and New Zealand trade corridors
According to Payaza CEO Seyi Ebenezer, the expansion is designed to help businesses access more efficient international payment infrastructure.
“Our expansion into regions like New Zealand is a calculated move to capture high-value, cross-border trade corridors that traditional institutions heavily overcharge for,” Ebenezer told Condia.
The fintech believes that Australia and New Zealand can serve as important links between African businesses and global markets, particularly as companies increasingly seek faster, more affordable ways to send and receive money internationally.
Ebenezer said the new regulatory approvals will also improve Payaza’s credibility with financial institutions and banking partners while creating more opportunities for merchants in emerging markets to transact with businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s about opening up untapped trade lanes for our enterprise businesses,” he said.
The move places Payaza among a growing group of African fintech companies expanding beyond the continent to compete in the global digital payments market.
Read also: Morocco’s biggest bank launches instant UK-to-Morocco money transfer app
Why Payaza’s expansion matters for African fintech
Payaza’s latest move highlights the growing demand for cross-border payment solutions across Africa and other emerging markets.
Many businesses operating internationally still face challenges stemming from high transaction fees, slow settlement times, and fragmented financial systems. Fintech companies are increasingly building digital payment networks designed to make international transactions easier and more accessible.
Payaza says its strategy focuses on reducing reliance on traditional correspondent banking systems by developing its own settlement infrastructure and improving transaction routing.
“Capital flows smoothly across our own infrastructure, meaning we control the transaction speed, we drastically lower the processing costs, and we guarantee settlement uptime,” Ebenezer said.
The company added that expanding into more regions strengthens its payment network by creating additional connections between markets.
“Each continent we add makes the entire global network stronger, faster, and cheaper for the merchant,” Ebenezer said.
The expansion also comes as African fintech companies continue to explore international markets, driven by increased demand for digital payments, online commerce, and financial services that connect businesses across borders.
Read also: South Africa’s Starlink licensing row becomes a political fight over telecom reform
Payaza’s growth plans after international expansion
The expansion into Australia and New Zealand follows a strong period of growth for Payaza.
The company reported processing ₦6.25 trillion ($4.17 billion) in transaction volume during the first half of the year. It also launched Shopaza, an e-commerce platform that combines online storefronts, inventory management, logistics support, and multi-currency payment features.
Moving forward, Payaza plans to increase adoption of Shopaza while investing in alternative payment infrastructure.
The fintech also plans to use recently secured investment-grade credit ratings from Augusto & Co., GCR Ratings (a Moody’s affiliate), and DataPro to strengthen access to local capital markets and improve settlement liquidity.
For African startups and investors watching the fintech sector, Payaza’s international expansion signals a broader shift: African payment companies are increasingly building infrastructure designed for global commerce rather than just domestic markets.
The next stage will be to determine whether Payaza can attract more enterprise users, expand partnerships, and leverage its regulatory footprint to drive wider adoption across international trade routes.
Read also: Nigeria fintech H1 2026 report: The fintech market is moving beyond payments
Leave a comment and follow us on social media for more tips:
- Facebook: Today Africa
- Instagram: Today Africa
- Twitter: Today Africa
- LinkedIn: Today Africa
- YouTube: Today Africa Studio
