Nigeria’s fintech sector earned global recognition as five homegrown companies; PalmPay, Moniepoint, OPay, Piggyvest, and Interswitch were named among the world’s top 300 fintechs for 2025 by CNBC and Statista.
The list, based on revenue growth, headcount, and overall performance, underscores the global impact of technology-driven financial services. PalmPay, Moniepoint, OPay, and Interswitch were all featured under the Payments category, which focuses on platforms that enable transactions between people and businesses. Piggyvest stood out under the “Wealth Tech” segment for its contributions to digital savings and investment solutions.
Despite hosting over 200 fintech startups, Nigeria had only four companies (excluding Moniepoint, which is UK-incorporated) on the global list—highlighting both the promise and the limitations facing Africa’s largest economy in global fintech rankings.
The United States dominated the 2025 list with 126 companies, followed by the United Kingdom (38) and Singapore (16), revealing a wide geographical gap in fintech representation.
PalmPay celebrated its selection, citing its milestone of 15 million daily transactions and a user base exceeding 35 million customers. The company reaffirmed its goal to expand across emerging markets, particularly Tanzania and Bangladesh.
“This recognition by CNBC and Statista is a powerful affirmation of our mission to build a more inclusive financial system,” said Sofia Zab, Founding Chief Marketing Officer of PalmPay.
Moniepoint’s Group CEO, Tosin Eniolorunda, described the listing as a significant milestone for the company and the wider African fintech community. “Our inclusion is a testament to the hard work and success of the entire team and our growing role in shaping the future of fintech,” he said.
CNBC’s Top Fintech Companies ranking, launched in 2023, provides insight into the evolution of financial technology across categories such as banking, payments, digital assets, and wealth management. It also offers a benchmark for investors, governments, and innovators to assess market leaders.
While Nigeria’s presence on the 2025 list remains modest, the recognition of these five platforms signals international acknowledgement of the country’s fintech potential and a call to scale more startups to meet global standards.
