Ozow announces new Crypto Payments Solution, powered by MoneyBadger

Payment processing provider Ozow has announced the official integration of cryptocurrency as a primary payment solution on its platform. This move allows merchants to tap into the growing digital economy, by enabling customers to pay for goods and services directly from their crypto wallets.

Powered by MoneyBadger, South Africa’s Bitcoin-centric payments technology provider, this new offering allows customers to pay directly from their crypto wallets, including Bitcoin Lightning and major exchange wallets such as Luno, VALR and Binance, with instant settlement in South African Rand.

By adding crypto to its existing suite of Pay by Bank, Card, Vouchers, Payouts and Refunds, and PayShap solutions, Ozow provides a single, unified integration for merchants to access every major way to pay in South Africa.

The shift toward crypto as a transactional currency is accelerating in South Africa.

Recent market data highlights a significant appetite for real-world crypto utility:

• There are currently over 6 million registered crypto exchange users in South Africa looking for avenues to spend their digital assets.

• A recent co-marketing case study between Luno and Pick n Pay, which integrated with MoneyBadger in 2022, demonstrated a threefold increase in customers using crypto for everyday purchases when presented with clear value and a frictionless experience.

• Crypto payments are no longer restricted to niche tech circles; they are being driven by diverse segments, including global travellers avoiding high exchange fees, remote workers receiving salaries in digital assets, and a future-forward generation of Gen Z and Millennial consumers.

“Our mission has always been to simplify the way South Africans pay and get paid, and the introduction of crypto is a natural extension of that commitment to financial enablement. It is also just the start of our journey into digital assets,” said Rachel Cowan, interim CEO of Ozow. “By bridging the gap between digital assets and everyday utility, we are providing consumers with greater choice and flexibility in how they interact with the digital economy. For our merchants, this is about more than just a new payment method; it is about providing them with a frictionless gateway to a global, tech-forward market, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of the evolving financial landscape while maintaining the simplicity and security they expect from our ecosystem,” said Cowan.

For merchants, the integration offers a high-value customer segment without the traditional hurdles of digital asset management.

MoneyBadger handles the complexity of the transaction, ensuring zero volatility risk by instantly converting crypto to South African Rand. Ozow merchants can instantly enable crypto payments without any additional integration required.

Furthermore, crypto processing is often more cost-effective than traditional credit card fees, allowing businesses to preserve higher margins while offering a modern brand identity that aligns with global fintech trends.

“Like Ozow Instant-EFT, digital token payments represent advantages to merchants like reduced fraud rates and access to a growing market of tech-savvy consumers that are already saving and spending digital currencies like Bitcoin,” according to MoneyBadger CEO, Carel van Wyk. “By working with Ozow, we are making it safe and simple for business owners to offer greater choice in payment options to their customers and stay ahead of the curve.”

For consumers, the process is as simple as scanning a QR code or selecting the Crypto option at an online checkout. Transactions are secured by biometric authentication and TLS encryption, providing a level of security that often surpasses traditional physical payment methods.

“This integration signals a major step toward the mainstream adoption of digital assets in the retail and e-commerce sectors,” said Cowan.

About Ozow

Ozow is a leading South African fintech company transforming the way consumers and businesses transact through innovative, seamless, and secure payment solutions. Founded in 2014, Ozow specialises in real-time digital payments, offering a range of products including Pay by Bank, Card Payments, PayShap Request, Instant Refunds, Payouts, and Cash Vouchers. Trusted by South Africa’s biggest brands, Ozow enables millions of South Africans to transact effortlessly, helping merchants unlock growth, reduce friction at checkout, and improve financial accessibility. Ozow is a licensed System Operator and Third-Party Payment Provider with the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and is fully compliant with industry regulations.

For more information, visit www.ozow.com

About MoneyBadger

Bitcoin and crypto payments solution provider MoneyBadger makes Bitcoin payments safe and easy, whether online or in physical stores. Merchants are settled in Rands or Bitcoin. Its merchant API supports Lightning Network transactions as well as all major wallet providers and the crypto tokens they support.

MoneyBadger bridges the gap between legacy point-of-sale (POS) systems and Bitcoin payments via a QR code scanner. The company was founded in Stellenbosch by industry stalwarts Carel van Wyk (ex Luno and SnapScan), Carl Kritzinger (ex KnowBe4 and FireWorks) and Brent Petersen (ex Easy Crypto) in 2022. Its first major client was Pick n Pay, which debuted crypto payments in February 2023.

For more information, visit www.moneybadger.co.za