Microblogging platform, Twitter, has launched two new payment providers for Pan-African users, Barter by Flutterwave and Paga.
Barter is a web and mobile app, from payments technology firm, Flutterwave, that lets people send and receive money from abroad instantly, and safely, at affordable rates.
Paga is a payment and financial services ecosystem for Africa. Their consumer app enables consumers to access and use money in the most convenient way for them.
Meanwhile, Flutterwave has secured $250 million in series D funding, valuing the company at over $3 billion, making it one of the highest-valued African start-ups.
The new funds will drive Flutterwave’s expansion plan to accelerate customer acquisition in existing markets, grow through mergers and acquisitions, and develop complementary products.
On the operations modalities, Twitter explained that turning on Tips adds an icon next to profile, which will now also have a link to Barter and Paga, for quick and easy person-to-person tipping.
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“Tap the icon, and you’ll see the payment services or platforms that the account has enabled, you can select whichever you prefer. Once you select the service you want to use, you’ll be taken off Twitter to the selected app to send funds. Twitter takes no cut. Barter and Paga join Chipper, which was rolled out in 2021, as payment services available for people in various African countries,” the firm stated.
According to Twitter, Bitcoin addresses can be added to Tips. Twitter said, “additionally, when you enable Tips on your profile, you can also add your Bitcoin address. People can copy your address and paste it into a Bitcoin wallet of their choice to send you a payment directly.”
Commenting on Barter’s inclusion as a payment provider to Tips, CEO and Founder of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola said, “As a frequent Twitter user, creators, artists and businesses add immense value to my experience on the platform —creating an avenue to reward or tip them is a good step in the right direction by Twitter. So we’re excited to be partnering with them to create a safe, fast and easy way to tip these amazing creators through Barter by Flutterwave. We have the reach and abilities to enable creators from Africa to receive tips from parts of the world. I will likely be one of the biggest users of Tips, and that’s because it’s an awesome feature that has huge potential for the creator economy in Africa.”
The Founder and CEO of Paga, Tayo Oviosu, said, “Our mission at Paga is to simplify payments for individuals and businesses. Through this partnership with Twitter, via Tips, we can create an effective way for Creators to get paid into their Paga accounts, directly from Twitter. As an avid Twitter user, I’m thrilled about this partnership. Creators are a key demographic we are building for at Paga, and this partnership allows us to enable them to effectively monetize their work. We are really excited about solving payments in the most innovative ways, especially with companies such as Twitter.”
Through the payment partner interface, Twitter said people will be able to support individuals and organizations across Nigeria and the sub-Saharan region via multiple modes of payment including UPI, credit and debit cards, net banking, wallets and more.
“The inclusion of additional payment providers to Twitter’s Tips feature represents an expansion of access to pathways for people on the continent to get paid, as Twitter expands its Africa presence since setting up operations in Ghana. It also marks a major step in Digital currencies that encourage more people to participate in the economy and help people send each other money across borders and with as little friction as possible,” it stated.
