The number of Kenyans actively using the M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card jumped 62.1% in the year ended 31 March 2026, according to Safaricom’s FY26 results released on Thursday.
Active cardholders reached 316,500, up from 195,200 in FY25, representing roughly 121,000 new users added in a single financial year. Transaction volumes rose 36.5% to 8.5 million, while the total value processed climbed 38.1% to approximately US$93 million, from US$67 million a year earlier.
The figures mark a decisive shift from early adoption into mainstream usage for a product that launched as a niche solution for digitally connected consumers.
The M-PESA GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card is a collaboration between Safaricom and Visa, linked directly to a customer’s M-PESA wallet. It requires no bank visit, no credit history, and no formal application, only an active M-PESA account. The card is issued digitally through the M-PESA app (Now MyOne app) or via USSD, with a 16-digit card number, expiry date, and CVV delivered within minutes of activation.
Once active, it enables payments at more than 100 million merchants across 200 countries on Visa’s global network, with a daily spending limit of approximately US$2,325. Safaricom has also integrated Fuliza, its M-PESA overdraft facility, into the GlobalPay product, allowing customers to toggle on credit access directly from the card menu.
Common use cases include subscriptions to streaming platforms such as Netflix, purchases from international e-commerce sites including Alibaba and Amazon, and payments for digital tools and software.
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