L-R: Victor Akoma-Phillips, Chief Operating Officer at Interstellar, Ernest Mbenkum, Founder and CEO at Interstellar and Akeem Lawal, Divisional Chief Executive Officer for Transaction Switching and Payment Processing at Interswitch during the signing ceremony at Interswitch head office in Lagos, recently.
Interstellar Inc. and Interswitch Group have announced a long-term strategic partnership agreement to jointly develop blockchain-powered infrastructure services and solutions.

Interswitch Group, Africa’s leading Integrated Payments and Digital Commerce Solutions company and Interstellar Inc., an Enterprise Blockchain Infrastructure Services Company have been working together over the last two years, carrying out blockchain technology research.

As part of the partnership, Interstellar’s Blockchain technology stack (STARGATE) will be integrated with Interswitch’s industry-leading payments and digital commerce technology.

This will further enhance the shared vision of the businesses to drive greater financial inclusion and prosperity across the continent.

Both companies have been preparing for the blockchain revolution in the African market with several ongoing initiatives including a Pan-African Payment Ecosystem (PAPE) powered by a private permissioned blockchain network which includes a consortium of Banks and Fintech players.

Ernest Mbenkum, Founder and CEO at Interstellar, said, “We are delighted to have established this strategic partnership with Interswitch, one of Africa’s most valuable fintech businesses. This marks the genesis of an innovative and collaborative partnership aimed at delivering impact-focused and enterprise grade blockchain-powered services across the African continent.”

Interswitch has been at the forefront of major innovation milestones in payments in Nigeria for the last 20 years, garnering recognition along the line as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Africa (Deloitte Fast-Growth 50) and gaining acclaim as the first homegrown African Fintech Unicorn following a minority investment by Visa in late 2019. Today, Interswitch’s current business footprint covers more than 26 countries in Africa.