Mobile phone users in Nigeria and other emerging markets borrowed more than $3.1 billion worth of airtime on credit in 2025, with Africa accounting for over 94% of the total, according to financial statements released by fintech company Optasia.
The company reported that airtime credit advances provided through telecommunications operators rose to $3.18 billion in 2025, up from $2.83 billion in 2024, representing a 12.3% increase.
Using exchange rates disclosed in the financial statements, the value of airtime advances amounted to about 4.61 trillion naira in 2025, compared with approximately 4.38 trillion naira the previous year.
Africa remained the company’s largest market, accounting for $2.99 billion, or 94.2%, of all airtime credit issued during the year. Europe and Asia contributed $96.1 million, while the Middle East accounted for $87.7 million.
The figures underscore the growing reliance of millions of mobile subscribers across Africa on small-value digital credit products, particularly in countries where access to traditional banking services remains limited and household incomes face pressure.
Optasia, which partners with mobile network operators and financial institutions to provide airtime advances and nano-loans, said its technology platform assesses subscriber behavior and determines credit eligibility through automated scoring and decision-making systems.
The company said it also shares part of the credit risk associated with airtime advances by indemnifying telecom operators if subscribers fail to repay within an agreed period.
In addition to airtime lending, Optasia reported significant growth in nano-loan transactions. Its mobile financial services segment facilitated nano-loans worth $2.30 billion in 2025, more than double the $967.9 million recorded in 2024.
Africa accounted for $1.41 billion, or 61.4%, of nano-loan disbursements, while Europe and Asia contributed $888.9 million.
The growth in lending activity contributed to a sharp increase in earnings. Revenue rose 75.5% to $265.36 million in 2025 from $151.19 million a year earlier. Mobile financial services generated $167.53 million in revenue, while airtime credit services contributed $96.86 million.
Profit after tax increased to $43.13 million from $36.23 million in 2024, while total assets more than doubled to $302.17 million from $141.79 million.
Optasia, which operates in more than 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America, described itself as a fintech company focused on providing airtime credit, data advances, microloans and nano-loans to underserved populations.
The company maintains a direct presence in Nigeria through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Nairtime Nigeria Limited and Xtra MFS Nigeria Limited.
Although Optasia did not disclose separate financial results for its Nigerian operations, the company identified Nigeria as one of its key markets and a significant source of foreign exchange exposure.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, Optasia reported net naira exposure of 19.37 billion naira, down from 25.03 billion naira a year earlier. The company said movements in the Nigerian currency could materially affect the value of its assets, liabilities and earnings when converted to U.S. dollars.
Nigeria also accounted for $7.73 million in gross trade receivables at the end of 2025, more than double the $3.8 million recorded the previous year, indicating increased transaction activity in the country.
The company disclosed that it maintained naira-denominated credit facilities with Nigerian banks, including an invoice discounting facility and a cash-backed term loan facility carrying annual interest rates of 30%.
Optasia also highlighted its minority investment in Quickcheck Holding Limited, a digital lending company primarily operating in Nigeria, noting that economic and regulatory developments in the country remain important to the investment’s performance.
The report comes amid ongoing debate over the future structure of Nigeria’s airtime credit market.
Recent reports suggested that the Federal Government was considering measures to open the sector to more local fintech firms, ending what critics described as Optasia’s long-standing dominance of the market.
However, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has denied involvement in reports claiming it recommended the approval of additional operators or submitted names of local fintech companies to the Presidency.
FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu said the commission was unaware of the claims and had not participated in any approval process.
The commission also noted that implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 remains suspended following an interim injunction issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The court order followed a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, with further proceedings scheduled for July 20, 2026.
The dispute began earlier this year when major telecommunications operators, including MTN, Airtel, Glo and T2Mobile, temporarily suspended airtime credit services after the FCCPC classified airtime advances as a form of consumer lending subject to its regulatory framework.
The move sparked a jurisdictional dispute with the Nigerian Communications Commission, which regulates telecommunications services. Airtime and data credit services have since been restored across mobile networks.
Industry stakeholders have argued that regulatory clarity is critical to sustaining investment and innovation in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital lending market.
