Cape Town-based payments leader Ecentric has announced a strategic partnership with MoneyBadger to bring Bitcoin payments to the forefront of mainstream retail in South Africa. The collaboration leverages Ecentric’s established national infrastructure and MoneyBadger’s growing momentum in crypto payment enablement, marking a significant step forward in the adoption of alternative digital payment methods.
Already integrated into major retail environments—most notably Pick n Pay, where it processes thousands of transactions monthly—MoneyBadger’s platform allows consumers to pay in Bitcoin while retailers receive instant rand settlements. With Ecentric’s OmniHub platform powering the back-end, the partnership lowers the barrier for mid-tier and enterprise retailers to offer seamless crypto payment options without disrupting existing systems.
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“Out in the market, there’s no doubt about the demand for crypto payments,” said Inge Oosthuizen, Product Owner at Ecentric. “This partnership enables retailers to tap into a growing customer base without needing to understand crypto mechanics or overhaul their infrastructure.”
Crypto retail adoption goes mainstream
The move comes as global and local interest in cryptocurrency continues to rise. According to Statista, more than 10% of South Africans are projected to own crypto by 2025, with over seven million users by 2026—most of them millennials. These tech-savvy consumers are not only holding crypto but are increasingly using it to make everyday purchases.
The Ecentric-MoneyBadger solution removes friction points that have previously hampered retail crypto adoption. Customers simply use existing QR code systems to make a Bitcoin payment—no new apps, no retraining required. Retailers are shielded from volatility and complexity, receiving fiat (ZAR) in real time.
“It’s a game-changer,” says Carel van Wyk, CEO of MoneyBadger. “Our QR-based solution plugs directly into consumer behaviour and teller processes that already exist. It’s practical, intuitive, and bridges the gap between crypto and the traditional retail world.”
The functionality works with all major local wallets, including VALR, Luno, and Binance, making it a truly inclusive system. Customers benefit from flexibility and ease of use, while merchants can expand their payment options and increase their basket sizes—especially among younger customers who value decentralised financial tools.
Ecentric’s payments backbone
Ecentric manages card payments for two-thirds of South Africa’s listed retailers and continues to scale into the mid-tier and in-person payments market. Its OmniHub platform offers plug-and-play integration, enabling rapid deployment of new technologies like crypto acceptance. The platform also includes advanced reporting and reconciliation tools, ensuring that financial tracking remains seamless.
“Retailers aren’t looking for more tech—they’re looking for smarter tech,” adds Oosthuizen. “This integration delivers that. It’s low-lift for merchants and high-value for customers.”
Bitcoin as currency, not just investment
Van Wyk says the evolution of Bitcoin in South Africa reflects a broader shift in global consumer sentiment. “It’s no longer just an investment. More people now see Bitcoin as usable money, and the ecosystem is maturing to support that.”
As adoption rises, he believes the ability to spend Bitcoin in daily life—whether on groceries or retail goods—will be a key inflection point. “We expect growing demand for merchant ecosystems that understand and support crypto—not as novelty, but as everyday utility.”
With Ecentric and MoneyBadger joining forces, South African businesses now have a frictionless way to participate in this evolution—and cater to a new wave of digital-first consumers.
