Picture running a vibrant soko in Nairobi or an online shop in Mombasa, frustrated by slow, costly payment systems. Now, imagine a solution letting you accept M-Pesa, Visa, or even crypto effortlessly.

That’s the vision of Cross Switch, a global fintech leader that launched in Kenya on May 15, 2025, partnering with Pesawise, a trusted local payment provider.

This alliance is transforming Kenya’s digital payments landscape, but what made Pesawise the ideal choice for Cross Switch’s Kenyan debut?

A Perfect Fit for Fintech

Cross Switch, founded in 2022, has quickly established itself as a powerhouse in emerging markets, with active operations in South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Latin America.

Its mission? To deliver flexible, secure, and scalable payment solutions that empower businesses and drive financial inclusion.

With a robust global payments infrastructure, Cross Switch enables merchants to seamlessly accept payments across multiple channels;think Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, mobile money, and bank platforms, all through a unified platform.

The result? Simplified payment processing, lower costs, and faster transaction settlements that allow businesses to focus on growth rather than logistics.

Enter Pesawise, a Kenyan fintech gem. As a fully regulated payment service provider authorised by the Central Bank of Kenya, Pesawise brings a trusted reputation and deep local expertise to the table.

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Its young, dynamic management team is known for delivering API-driven solutions for collections, payouts, and virtual accounts, serving major players like Kuehne + Nagel, SeamlessHR, and even Glovo Kenya.

Pesawise’s commitment to reducing transaction costs and enhancing transparency aligns perfectly with Cross Switch’s customer-focused philosophy.

Why Kenya? Why Now?

Kenya is no stranger to fintech innovation. Home to the world-famous M-Pesa, the country has long been a pioneer in mobile money and digital payments.

With a thriving e-commerce sector, a booming hospitality industry, and growing demand for efficient payment solutions, Kenya is a natural fit for Cross Switch’s ambitions.

But breaking into a competitive market like Kenya requires more than just great technology; it demands a partner who understands the local landscape.

Pesawise’s regulatory standing and proven track record made it the ideal choice. By partnering with a licensed provider in good standing with the Central Bank of Kenya, Cross Switch ensures compliance and secure handling of merchant funds in trusted Tier-1 banks.

This partnership allows Cross Switch to hit the ground running, delivering robust payment solutions to businesses, merchants, and charitable organisations from day one.

What Cross Switch Brings to the Table

Cross Switch’s technology is a game-changer for Kenyan businesses. Its unified platform simplifies the complexity of accepting payments across multiple channels, whether it’s a hotel processing credit card payments, an e-commerce platform handling mobile money transactions, or a nonprofit collecting donations.

The platform’s scalability means it can support businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, while its advanced fraud prevention, risk management, and reconciliation capabilities provide peace of mind in an increasingly digital world.

A Shared Vision for Impact

What sets this partnership apart is the shared vision between Cross Switch and Pesawise. As Cross Switch’s CEO, Tim Davis, puts it,

“It’s refreshing to see a shared set of values with Pesawise to provide our customers with best-in-class service levels and straightforward solutions. With their exceptional team and proven ability to provide relevant value-added services, we believe Pesawise will excel in the fast-moving fintech space.”

Both companies are united by a mission to drive social impact and democratise technology across Africa.

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Whether it’s helping a small business accept payments more efficiently, enabling a nonprofit to collect donations seamlessly, or supporting a delivery service like Glovo Kenya to scale operations, the Cross Switch-Pesawise partnership is all about creating real, tangible value for Kenyan businesses and communities.

The Road Ahead

The Cross Switch-Pesawise partnership is just getting started, but it’s already showing immense promise. By combining Cross Switch’s global expertise with Pesawise’s local insights, the duo are on track to transform Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem.

For Kenyan merchants, nonprofits, and consumers, this is just the beginning of a brighter, more connected financial future.

Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.