Five Nigerian-founded fintech companies—PalmPay, Moniepoint, OPay, Piggyvest, and Interswitch—have been named among the Top 300 Global Fintech Companies of 2025, a prestigious ranking compiled by CNBC in collaboration with global data firm Statista.
The annual list, released on Wednesday, spotlights leading fintech innovators from around the world, based on critical performance indicators such as revenue growth, user base, employee count, and market influence.
PalmPay, Moniepoint, OPay, and Interswitch were recognized under the “Payments” category, which features companies providing payment platforms, mobile wallets, transaction processing solutions, and related infrastructure.
Piggyvest, on the other hand, was listed under the “Wealth Tech” category, which includes digital platforms offering savings, investment management, online trading, and wealth advisory services.
While Nigeria is regarded as a rising fintech hub with over 200 startups in the sector, only four companies made the final cut, a figure that highlights the country’s relatively low global representation.
By contrast, the United States dominated the list with 126 companies, followed by the United Kingdom with 38, and Singapore in third with 16. This distribution underscores the ongoing disparity in global fintech recognition, even as African startups continue to scale and innovate rapidly.
Reacting to the recognition, PalmPay’s Founding Chief Marketing Officer, Sofia Zab, described the inclusion as a validation of the company’s vision and expansion strategy.
“To be recognised as one of the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC and Statista is a powerful affirmation of our mission to build a more inclusive financial system,” Zab said.
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She revealed that PalmPay now facilitates over 15 million daily transactions, serving more than 35 million registered users across Africa. The company is also expanding into Tanzania and Bangladesh, as it eyes new frontiers in emerging markets.
Tosin Eniolorunda, Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc, also expressed appreciation for the global acknowledgment.
“It is an honour to be named as one of the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the Moniepoint team and our role in reshaping the future of financial services for businesses and individuals,” he said.
Moniepoint, a leading provider of banking and payment solutions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, recently reported significant traction in digital banking infrastructure and merchant services.
The CNBC-Statista list was launched in 2023 as a benchmark to identify the most influential and innovative fintechs across different categories—ranging from payments, banking, digital assets, insurtech, to wealth management.
Statista conducted comprehensive desk research on thousands of fintechs globally, applying quantitative and qualitative metrics, before finalizing the 2025 list. Editorial input from CNBC further shaped the outcome, ensuring that only companies with demonstrated industry relevance and performance made the cut.
The recognition of these five companies highlights Nigeria’s continued rise as a center for fintech innovation in Africa.
However, the relatively low number of entrants also draws attention to the challenges Nigerian fintechs face in scaling to global visibility, including issues related to regulation, access to international capital, and scalability beyond regional markets.