Digital transformation reshapes global MSME lending and payment infrastructure

The global financial landscape is undergoing a significant shift toward digital-first services and real-time infrastructure. In Kenya, Co-operative Bank of Kenya has expanded its digital lending, disbursing Sh72.96 billion through its E-Credit platform in 2025, with over Sh10 billion directed toward MSMEs.

In South Africa, efforts to bridge the MSME funding gap include a partnership between the Western Cape Government and Finfind to connect small businesses with over 600 funding products. Meanwhile, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange notes that lenders often prioritize a business’s underlying capability to generate income—the “chicken”—over immediate cash needs, or the “egg.”

Technologically, the rise of stablecoins is creating 24/7 cross-border FX infrastructure. While 98% of stablecoins are pegged to the US dollar, 60% of transaction volumes occur in Asia. In the Philippines, licensed exchanges are facilitating significant liquidity for remittances. Simultaneously, financial institutions are working to transition from legacy batch-processing systems to real-time payment rails, a move that requires significant back-office modernization to handle instantaneous, individual transaction clearing.