Binance, the popular cryptocurrency exchange, has appointed former M-Pesa Africa and Visa executive Sammy Mutua as General Manager for Africa, as it steps up efforts to expand across Sub-Saharan markets amid rising interest in digital assets.
Based in Nairobi, Mutua will lead Binance’s regional strategy, market development, regulatory engagement, and partnerships across public and private sector stakeholders. The move comes as blockchain and digital asset adoption gathers momentum in Africa, driven by demand for lower-cost cross-border payments and broader financial access.
Mutua brings more than 20 years of experience across Africa’s financial services and payments sector. He previously held senior roles at M-Pesa Africa, Visa Sub-Saharan Africa, and Letshego Group, focusing on payments infrastructure, commercial partnerships, and market expansion.
His appointment signals Binance’s continued push to deepen engagement with regulators and institutional partners as governments across the region tighten oversight of digital asset markets.
In his new role, Mutua is expected to prioritize regulatory engagement, ecosystem partnerships, and identifying practical blockchain use cases aligned with local financial systems.
“Africa represents one of the most important regions for the future of digital assets, with strong fundamentals driven by innovation, a growing digital economy, and demand for more efficient financial systems,” Mutua said.
“What is critical now is building in a way that is aligned with local realities, working alongside regulators, partners, and communities to ensure digital assets deliver tangible value.”
Binance has been expanding its presence across Africa through education initiatives, industry partnerships, and regulatory dialogue, positioning itself within emerging digital finance ecosystems.
The exchange sees the region as a key frontier for blockchain adoption, particularly in cross-border payments, financial inclusion, and access to digital financial tools.