Payment service Peach teaming up with MoneyBadger for crypto transactions in South Africa
South Africa Embraces Bitcoin and Crypto Payments
South Africa is witnessing a significant shift in the payments landscape, with an increasing number of merchants adopting Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions. This trend is driven by high consumer ownership of cryptocurrencies and innovative partnerships that make crypto payments more accessible.
One such partnership is between payment services provider Peach Payments and crypto payment provider MoneyBadger. This collaboration enables Peach Payments' broad merchant base to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, expanding crypto payment acceptance across ecommerce and retail sectors.
Notable examples of this partnership include Pick n Pay, the first retailer in Africa to accept Bitcoin and crypto payments at the till since early 2023, and TicketPro, the first online ticketing company in South Africa to offer MoneyBadger as a payment method.
Binance, the largest crypto exchange globally, has also integrated with Peach Payments and MoneyBadger, allowing South Africans to pay for goods and services with over 100 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins instantly and without gas fees.
The adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies is not limited to retail and ecommerce. Ecentric, which manages payments for many of South Africa’s largest retailers, has integrated crypto payment acceptance via its OmniHub platform, targeting the mid-tier and in-person payments market.
This shift is moving Bitcoin from just an investment asset to a usable currency for everyday transactions. Crypto payments attract a younger, tech-savvy demographic (18-34 years) with growing purchasing power, increasing sales opportunities for merchants.
Moreover, it facilitates spending by foreigners, expats, and those without local bank accounts, broadening the customer base for South African businesses. The volume of crypto transactions is rising rapidly, with MoneyBadger processing 19,536 transactions valued at R7.77 million in the first half of 2025, up from 13,338 transactions worth R5.69 million in the same period of 2024.
Carel van Wyk, MoneyBadger co-founder and CEO, considers Peach Payments a natural fit for Bitcoin payments due to its innovative approach and commitment to technical excellence. MoneyBadger supports Luno, VALR, Binance, and Bitcoin Lightning wallets (including Aqua, Blink, Breez, Alby, and Strike), providing more choice for consumers.
Payment via Bitcoin or other crypto assets is seamless for consumers at Peach Payments' merchants. Consumers can pay by scanning a QR code (on PC or in-store) or clicking a button that populates the payment details in their wallet (on mobile). Merchants are paid out in Rands on the next business day when a payment is made via Bitcoin or other crypto assets.
As the trend continues, cryptocurrency use is expected to become more practical for everyday spending, making South Africa's digital commerce landscape more diverse and inclusive.
Mobile technology enables consumers to pay for goods and services using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with ease, as they can scan a QR code (on PC or in-store) or use their mobile devices to click a button that populates payment details. This growth in cryptocurrency market penetration, due to innovative partnerships like the one between Peach Payments and MoneyBadger, attracts broader broadband technology adoption for commerce, particularly among the younger, tech-savvy demographic (18-34 years).
