South Africa Enables Crypto Spending at 650,000 Retail Stores

• Lyla Velez
• October 7, 2025
• Adoption
• 0 Comments

South Africans can now spend cryptocurrency directly at over 650,000 stores with scan-to-pay technology. This widespread retail integration represents a joint effort by Scan to Pay, Binance Pay, and fintech firms like MoneyBadger and Peach Payments.

The integration facilitates widespread crypto transactions, highlighting the potential impact on financial systems and increasing cryptocurrency accessibility. South Africa leads as a prime example of national-scale crypto adoption.

In a significant shift for cryptocurrency use, South Africans can now use crypto at more than 650,000 scan-to-pay locations. Scan to Pay has integrated the Bitcoin Lightning Network, allowing for instant and low-fee payments in consumer transactions.

This development involves key players, including Scan to Pay, Binance Pay, MoneyBadger, and Peach Payments, which collaborated to enhance crypto transaction capabilities. Larry Cooke of Binance Africa emphasizes real-world crypto integration, impacting daily consumer habits.

Retailers across South Africa are expected to experience an increase in transactions as crypto users expand. MoneyBadger efficiently converts cryptocurrencies to Rands, ensuring seamless merchant settlements, which could redefine the operational dynamics of local stores. Referring to these changes, Carel van Wyk, Co-founder of MoneyBadger, states:

“People are already using crypto to pay for real things — hardware, light fittings, airtime. This isn’t some hype cycle. It’s day-to-day utility.”

The integration affects many industries and financial services within the region. With over 100 cryptocurrencies supported, consumers and businesses benefit from improved flexibility in transactions, presenting opportunities and challenges for regulatory bodies aiming to keep pace.

South Africa’s integration stands out globally as a model for adopting cryptocurrency payment systems on a national scale, setting a precedent for other countries. Technologically, it leverages existing crypto networks to facilitate secure and reliable transactions across diverse payment platforms.