Open finance is reshaping how financial systems operate by enabling interoperability, competition, and innovation and in 2026, the conversation has moved well beyond account access to full data-sharing ecosystems that connect payments, credit, insurance, and investment.
With telcos increasingly operating as licensed banks and fintechs embedding financial services into agriculture, logistics, and commerce platforms, the boundaries of “financial services” are expanding rapidly.
The conversation examines how African markets can design open finance systems suited to local conditions, balancing innovation with trust and market openness with stability and what governance models are needed to ensure openness doesn’t come at the cost of consumer protection.
