Anchor, a global banking and payments infrastructure platform, has announced the acquisition of key regulatory licences in Nigeria and Canada, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy.
The company has secured a Microfinance Bank (MFB) licence and an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) licence in Nigeria. In addition, Anchor obtained a Money Services Business (MSB) registration in Canada.
These approvals strengthen the company’s compliance framework and enable it to offer more robust embedded financial services across borders.
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Speaking on the development, Segun Adeyemi, CEO and Co-founder of Anchor, highlighted the importance of these licences in building reliable infrastructure for the next wave of fintech innovation. “These regulatory milestones reinforce our commitment to providing compliant, scalable infrastructure that powers businesses to build and scale financial products efficiently,” Adeyemi noted.
As Nigeria’s fintech industry continues to mature, infrastructure providers like Anchor are becoming increasingly important. Founded in 2021 and publicly launched in 2022, the company has quickly established itself as a key player in the embedded finance space.
Anchor represents a critical layer in the fintech value chain. While companies like payment processors focus on transactions, Anchor goes further by enabling businesses to build entire financial ecosystems within their platforms.
The platform provides API-driven tools for embedded accounts, payments, cards, and other financial products, allowing businesses to integrate banking features seamlessly into their applications.
Since its inception, Anchor has processed over $2.5 billion in transactions while onboarding more than 1,000 businesses across 18 countries spanning Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Over 300 businesses now run on Anchor from startups like Bujeti, Kredete, Ramply, Cedar Money, Timon Financials, Kobotrade, Curacel, Trove, and Accrue, to established enterprises such as MoMo, the fintech arm of MTN.
Anchor’s growth comes at a time when African fintech companies are facing increased regulatory scrutiny and consolidation. By securing these licences, the company positions itself as a trusted infrastructure partner capable of supporting cross-border payments, local account services, and international money transfers.
The MFB licence in Nigeria will allow Anchor to offer deposit-taking and other microfinance services directly, while the IMTO licence enhances its ability to facilitate international remittances. The Canadian MSB registration further extends its reach into North America, creating smoother corridors for businesses operating between Africa and global markets.
With its API-first approach, Anchor has become a go-to platform for startups and enterprises looking to launch banking and payment solutions rapidly without building complex infrastructure from scratch.
Anchor’s infrastructure is fueling a new wave of financial innovation across Africa. Remittance companies like Veloremit and Quick Remit are making it possible for families to send and receive money safely, quickly, and at a lower cost. Expense management platforms such as Bujeti are giving SMEs smarter tools to manage spending and grow with confidence.
By lowering the barriers to entry, the company is helping to democratize access to financial services infrastructure, empowering startups and enterprises alike to innovate and scale. In a region where financial inclusion remains a major challenge, such infrastructure plays a vital role in extending services to underserved populations.
The latest regulatory wins build on Anchor’s strong momentum, following its third anniversary celebration in 2025, where it first highlighted crossing the $2.5 billion transaction milestone.