Zone now Africa’s fastest-growing blockchain company

Zone, Africa’s first regulated blockchain network for payments, has been named Africa’s fastest-growing blockchain company by the Financial Times and Statista’s Fastest Growing Companies in Africa award. The company becomes the first blockchain company in Africa and one of the few Nigerian fintechs to feature on the prestigious list.

The annual ranking identifies the top performers in Africa’s private sector, recognising companies with impressive growth and significant contributions to their respective sectors. Following the rigorous process of reviewing entries from hundreds of companies in Africa, Zone was selected as one of only 100 companies, and the first blockchain company on the entire continent, to feature on the list.

Obi Emetarom, co-Founder and chief executive of Zone, expressed his excitement about the announcement, saying that the team is “deeply honoured by this recognition from the Financial Times and Statista.”

He added that this recognition will encourage the team to double down on their mission to connect every monetary store of value by harnessing the power of blockchain. “By fulfilling our mission, we are laying the foundation for a truly cashless world while expanding access to financial services and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for the African continent.”

Zone has had an impressive year following its successful transition from a banking-as-a-service provider to a payment infrastructure company in November 2022.

The company also obtained a payment switching license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, which has allowed it to build out its decentralised payment network and connect various financial services providers.

With over 20 of the biggest commercial banks, fintechs and OFIs in Africa already connected to its Layer-1 blockchain network, Zone is laying the rails for a world where digital payments are frictionless, borderless, and compatible with every form and store of money.

Olayiwola Osoba, vice president of marketing at Zone, expressed his excitement about the recognition, saying, “Being named one of Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times and Statista is quite exciting for us at Zone. This recognition is an indication of our team’s immense effort to transform Africa’s payment landscape using an innovative architecture and a superior tech stack.”

Zone is Africa’s first decentralised payment network, allowing participating institutions to connect directly with each other and perform payment transactions without an intermediary while completely automating settlement, reconciliation, and dispute management.

Experts say Zone’s recognition by the Financial Times and Statista’s Fastest Growing Companies in Africa award is a testament to the company’s dedication to revolutionising Africa’s payment landscape using innovative technology. As the company continues to build out its decentralised payment network and connect various financial services providers, it is laying the foundation for a truly cashless world and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for the African continent.

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