Safaricom has rolled out Fintech 2.0. This is a major M-PESA upgrade that enables up to 6,000 transactions per second (TPS). That means faster payments, fewer hiccups, and room to build smarter features on top of Africa’s most popular mobile money platform. The announcement landed on September 19, 2025, marking a milestone for mobile money transactions in Kenya.
What is “Fintech 2.0”?
Safaricom is transforming M-PESA with a comprehensive overhaul, redefining the platform rather than just updating it. The new cloud-native architecture, built on microservices and an active-active framework, allows the system to operate seamlessly across multiple data centers. This means that if one location faces challenges, another site ensures uninterrupted service. Additionally, the integration of cutting-edge AI tools enhances payment processes with advanced fraud detection, real-time monitoring, and self-repair capabilities. These innovations aim to make everyday transactions faster, more secure, and more reliable.
Why 6,000 TPS matter
Before the launch, M-PESA’s transaction capacity was around 4,500 transactions per second (TPS). With the introduction of Safaricom Fintech 2.0, that capacity has now increased to 6,000 TPS, with the infrastructure designed to scale up to 12,000 TPS as demand increases. This enhancement is particularly significant during peak times, such as salary payment days, bill payments, or major promotional events, where every second counts.
This upgrade not only accommodates M-PESA’s impressive daily volume of over 100 million transactions but also strategically positions the service for substantial growth across various sectors, including retail, transportation, and digital services. This represents a crucial advancement in the ongoing fintech evolution within the region.
Quick wins you’ll feel
- Faster checkouts: Less waiting when paying at tills, online stores, or apps.
- Fewer outages: Active-active design means stronger resilience even if one data center stumbles.
- Smarter security: AI helps spot and stop suspicious activity quicker, enabling smoother AI payments.
- Quicker rollouts: Cloud microservices and cloud-native tooling speed up new features and improvements.
All four are core goals called out in the Fintech 2.0 rollout.
What does this mean for businesses and developers?
For merchants, having more capacity translates to smoother peak periods—think about those busy days for utility bill payments, school fees, or holiday shopping. For developers, M-PESA’s open ecosystem is a significant advantage: the Daraja API platform connects over 100,000 developers and boasts more than 55,000 integrations. With a stronger foundational system, launching or scaling fintech products becomes less complicated. This upgrade speeds up the larger fintech evolution in Kenya by simplifying the process of creating reliable payment experiences at scale.
Safaricom’s leadership views this upgrade as a strategic move for the long haul. As CEO Peter Ndegwa stated, this shift represents a “bold investment in the future of M-PESA,” opening up a platform that not only meets today’s demands but also prepares for tomorrow’s challenges. This vision is essential for fostering Africa’s expansive digital economy, where reliability and speed are essential, paving the way for innovations such as AI-driven payments to flourish.
The roadmap
Fintech 2.0 represents just the beginning of a transformative journey. Safaricom has set a commendable target of reaching 8,000 transactions per second (TPS) by 2026, effectively positioning itself to accommodate the anticipated surge in digital payments. With the new core launching at 6,000 TPS today and designed to eventually expand to 12,000 TPS, it’s clear that significant strides are being made towards this ambitious goal. This upgrade of M-PESA is a strong indication of a future-oriented vision, ensuring its resilience and capability for years to come.
How might this change your day?
- Consumers: Quicker, more dependable person-to-person transfers, airtime purchases, and bill payments—even during rush hour—with the benefits of AI payments baked in.
- SMEs: Higher cart conversion and fewer payment timeouts at peak times.
- Enterprises & Gov: More predictable performance for disbursements, collections, and large campaign days.
Bottom line
M-PESA’s Fintech 2.0 upgrade goes beyond just addressing speed issues; it’s a complete transformation. Built on a cloud-native infrastructure and powered by cloud microservices, this upgrade is both active-active and AI-driven, ensuring that daily transactions are not only quick but also reliable. This upgrade sets the foundation for the future of digital finance in Africa. With today’s capability to handle 6,000 transactions per second (TPS), you’ll certainly notice the difference, especially during peak times when the nation is making payments simultaneously. Looking ahead, the roadmap points to even greater transaction volumes, indicating the exciting direction of mobile money in Kenya.
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