Mobile transactions in ’emerging markets’ worth more than $870bn by 2026

Juniper Research says the increase is up from $551 billion in 2021 – a growth rate of nearly 60%.

A new study from Juniper Research is about mobile money in emerging markets, which includes microinsurance, microloans, microsavings and mobile money transfer.



It finds growth will be driven by the transition of mobile money vendors, such as M-PESA, to the PaaP (Payments-as-a-Platform) model. This model enables mobile money vendors to provide its customers with access to third-party services such as eCommerce; creating additional revenue streams.

The research identified PaaP as critical to increasing revenue for mobile money vendors, as the adoption of smartphones users’ expectations rise.

Ecosystems and microloans

Juniper recommends that mobile money vendors focus on building their ecosystems now by agreeing merchant partnerships to leverage this opportunity.



Microloans will be the fastest-growing segment within mobile money, with growth of over 180% over the next five years and will be a “key way in which mobile money service providers can increase their revenue by delivering banking-like services”.

The research found that Africa and the Middle East will dominate mobile money transaction values over the next five years, accounting for 56% of the global emerging markets value by 2026.

It recommends that vendors in Africa focus on expanding sophisticated mobile money services, such as microinsurance and microsavings, to best address this rapidly growing opportunity.

For more insights, download the whitepaper: The New Wave of Fintech Innovation in Emerging Markets.