By Omar Gouda
Egypt’s fintech scene is on fire, growing more than five times over in just five years. With over 177 startups and payment platforms now in play, the country is quickly becoming a powerhouse for digital finance in the region.
But this isn’t just a startup boom—it’s a shift in how millions of Egyptians manage their money, from paying bills to borrowing, saving, and investing through tech-driven solutions.
Why now? What Is Driving the Surge?
Source: Fintech Magazine
1- Massive latent demand & a young population
Egypt’s young, tech-savvy population is fueling a major shift toward digital finance. With over 60% of people under 30, mobile wallets, fintech apps, and digital payment tools are quickly becoming the norm. But there’s still a big gap, as many Egyptians don’t have access to traditional banking, giving fintechs a chance to leap ahead and serve millions.
Demand is also a big driving force. Nearly half of all fintech activity in Egypt is concentrated in payments, lendin,g and B2B marketplaces, showing where the real momentum is.
2- Regulatory & infrastructure support
Egypt’s regulatory landscape for fintech has seen major progress. The Central Bank and other authorities have introduced supportive policies, testing frameworks, and funding programs to boost innovation.
In 2025, the Financial Regulatory Authority launched a “Startup Charter” to make it easier for fintechs to get licensed and access capital.
3- Capital flows & regional expansion
Money is pouring into Egypt’s fintech scene. In May 2025 alone, the country topped the MENA region, pulling in a big slice of the $289 million raised across 44 deals, with fintech leading the pack, having raised $86.5 million in the region.
Startups that are fuelling the boom
MNT Halan
Source: Halan
Based in Cairo, MNT Halan offers micro-finance, digital wallets and consumer credit, and has quickly become one of Egypt’s standout success stories. It’s raised serious capital, around $668 million across top ventures and is now expanding across the region, showing what scale looks like in action.
Paymob
Source: Paymob
Paymob is all about powering merchant payments, digital point-of-sale systems and gateway solutions across Egypt and beyond. As more businesses go digital and payment volumes climb, Paymob is in prime position to ride the wave, handling transactions and offering extra services that help merchants grow.
Fawry for Banking & Payment Technology (Fawry)
Source: Arab News
Fawry, which now supports Apple Pay, may have been around longer than most startups, but it’s now a publicly listed company in Egypt and a prime example of how fintech can go big. It proves that digital payments and financial services aren’t just for early adopters—they can scale, go mainstream and attract serious investment.
Thndr
Founders, source: Wamda
Thndr is a digital investing app riding the wave of fintechs that are branching out from payments into savings, investing and wealth-building tools. The app allows users to buy and sell stocks on the Egyptian Stock Exchange.
It may still be in the early stages compared to the big payment players, but its rise signals that Egypt’s fintech ecosystem is growing up and diversifying fast.
MoneyFellows
Source: MoneyFellows
This startup takes Egypt’s traditional rotating savings model (Gam3eya) and brings it into the digital age, turning informal finance into a launchpad for innovation. Its rapid growth shows that fintech in Egypt isn’t just about payments or loans—it’s about rethinking how people save, share and manage money together.
Challenges & friction points
Despite the surge in Egypt’s fintech growth, a few roadblocks still stand in the way. Regulatory clarity is a work in progress, with key areas like open banking and digital bank licensing still evolving.
Economic pressures, including currency swings and inflation, add another layer of risk for operators and investors. On top of that, digital adoption isn’t evenly spread. Urban youth may be plugged in, but rural communities and older users often lag behind.
The way ahead
Egypt’s fintech scene isn’t just growing—it’s booming, with a 5.5× surge in startups over five years and a wave of young innovators leading the charge. Backed by fresh capital, smart regulation and real market demand, the country is fast becoming a regional case study in how to scale digital finance. The next frontier: going beyond payments into credit, savings and cross-border expansion.
