Mastercard is launching a new cybersecurity initiative across Africa as the payments company seeks to strengthen digital trust in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets.
The company on Saturday announced the creation of an Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, a multi-year effort designed to help governments, financial institutions and businesses improve defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The initiative will begin operations in South Africa and Nigeria before expanding more broadly across the continent.
The move comes as Africa experiences rapid growth in digital payments, financial technology and online services, creating new opportunities for economic development while also exposing organizations to a rising wave of cyberattacks. Mastercard estimates Africa’s digital economy could reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, making cybersecurity an increasingly important component of long-term economic growth.
“Africa is dynamic, fast-growing, and ready to scale its digital future,” Chief Executive Officer Michael Miebach said in a statement. “That won’t happen without trust.”
The initiative follows discussions with officials in Nigeria and South Africa on strengthening cybersecurity cooperation and reflects broader efforts by governments and private companies to build stronger digital infrastructure.
Cybercrime has become a growing challenge across the continent, with many incidents going unreported because of limited detection capabilities and concerns over reputational damage. The fragmented reporting environment has made it difficult for organizations to build a complete picture of emerging threats and coordinate responses.
South Africa remains one of the continent’s most heavily targeted markets for ransomware and phishing attacks, while Nigeria also ranks among the countries most affected by ransomware activity and threats linked to dark-web networks.
Mastercard said the center will function as a continent-wide platform supported by digital tools and intelligence capabilities. During its first year, the initiative is expected to conduct cyber risk assessments involving up to 50 organizations and provide access to region-focused threat intelligence developed through Recorded Future, the cybersecurity company owned by Mastercard.
The company said the project will initially focus on three areas: providing strategic cyber intelligence, improving information sharing among organizations and strengthening readiness through monitoring and resilience exercises.
Mastercard has invested more than $12.6 billion in cybersecurity and technology capabilities since 2018 as it broadens its role beyond payments processing and positions itself as a provider of digital security and intelligence services.
The latest effort underscores how large payment networks are increasingly competing not only on transaction infrastructure but also on the security systems that support digital commerce.