dLocal to Acquire AZA Finance in Strategic Play for Africa’s Fintech Market
Cross-border payments firm dLocal is making a bold move into Africa’s fintech landscape with the planned acquisition of Nairobi-founded AZA Finance, a leading provider of foreign exchange and cross-border payment solutions across the continent.
AZA Finance, founded in 2013 by Elizabeth Rossiello, has processed over $9 billion across 15 million transactions to date, serving businesses in key African markets. The acquisition marks a major expansion of dLocal’s footprint in Africa, aligning with its ambition to scale operations in emerging markets and deliver more efficient, localized financial services.
dLocal says the deal will allow it to grow its cross-border volumes across Africa and strengthen services in high-demand sectors like remittances. AZA’s infrastructure and market presence will also enhance dLocal’s treasury operations, FX capabilities, and stablecoin offerings—positioning the company to serve both enterprise and SME customers with increased efficiency.
“Our acquisition of AZA Finance will increase access for our global merchants to Africa’s dynamic, growing markets,” said dLocal COO Carlos Menendez. “By combining our platforms, we’re creating a powerful, localized payments engine to help businesses and individuals prosper in this rapidly evolving region.”
Rossiello echoed this sentiment, highlighting how AZA’s deep experience with local currencies and frontier markets complements dLocal’s global scale. “We’ve built Africa’s most efficient trading desk for fiat and stablecoin FX. We’re excited to integrate our technology and talent with dLocal’s platform to expand access and scale even further.”
This acquisition continues dLocal’s recent momentum. In 2022, it acquired Brazil-based PrimeiroPay, and in 2025, the company has already secured an authorised payment institution license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and entered partnerships with global players like PayPal, Temu, Airtel, and Coda.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
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