Wave Mobile Money has been honored with the prestigious African Disrupter award at the AFIS Awards 2026 held in Luanda. This recognition highlights the company’s significant impact in the mobile money sector across Africa.
Since its launch in 2018, Wave has transformed the mobile money landscape by offering free deposits and withdrawals, along with a flat 1% fee for person-to-person transfers. Today, the company boasts over 25 million active users each month across 11 African countries.
Growth and Recognition
Wave’s rapid growth has been acknowledged by regulators as well. In 2022, the BCEAO granted Wave Digital Finance an electronic money license, making it the first non-bank and non-telecom operator to achieve this in several WAEMU markets. Furthermore, in 2025, Wave raised €117 million in debt financing, leading to the establishment of Wave Bank Africa in Abidjan with a capital of CFA 20 billion. The new headquarters for Wave Côte d’Ivoire was inaugurated on October 15, 2026, in the Cocody district of Abidjan.
Impact on National Services
Wave’s influence extends beyond financial transactions. According to the FinScope 2025 survey from Gambia, presented in July 2026, Wave’s expansion has played a critical role in improving mobile money access. In Senegal, the Ministry of Health partnered with Wave to digitize payments in public health facilities, while the social security fund has begun depositing certain benefits directly into Wave accounts.
The African Disrupter award celebrates innovative companies that have disrupted their markets, shown resilience, and experienced significant growth over the year. The AFIS Awards 2026 were organized in collaboration with Forvis Mazars.
