If you want to know where the smart money is going in the African tech ecosystem, look at who is footing the bill for the industry’s biggest gatherings.
The sponsor lineup for the Lagos Tech Fest 2026 offers a telling snapshot of the current state of Nigerian tech. In previous years, headlines were dominated by lending apps and domestic payment gateways. But this year, the list of strategic partners announced by Eventhive signals a distinct shift in focus: the priority for 2026 is moving money across borders.
The Rise of Borderless Finance
The strategic partners for the event’s sixth edition, including Luno, Bluebulb, Juicyway, Prestmit, Monica, and BMONI, are almost exclusively focused on cryptocurrency and cross-border payment infrastructure. This concentration suggests that the most valuable problem to solve right now isn’t just storing money, but moving it globally with speed and stability.
For industry watchers, this isn’t a surprise. As African businesses increasingly look to expand into global markets, the need for “financial rails” that bypass traditional banking bottlenecks has exploded.
Ola Daramola, CEO of Bluebulb, a UK-regulated fintech and one of the event’s partners, emphasized this shift. “As African businesses expand into global markets, access to trusted and well-governed financial infrastructure is no longer optional, it is foundational,” he said. Bluebulb’s involvement highlights the growing demand for treasury management and FX solutions that allow African companies to operate internationally without fear of settlement uncertainty.
Crypto as the New Standard
Cryptocurrency platforms are also asserting their dominance as mainstream financial partners rather than fringe alternatives. Luno, returning as a Platinum Sponsor, and Monica, a Bitcoin-to-Naira platform, represent the consumer side of this trend.
Ayotunde, CEO of Luno Nigeria, noted that the conversation has moved past speculation to “meaningful adoption,” driven by education and trust. This sentiment is echoed by Juicyway, another key partner using stablecoin technology to facilitate payments, and Prestmit, a platform transforming digital trading.
The presence of these players at a major B2B2C event indicates that crypto assets are now viewed as essential tools for trade and remittance, not just speculative assets.
The Security Scaffolding
Of course, moving money digitally requires robust security, a fact acknowledged by the inclusion of Ethnos Cyber as a Gold Sponsor. As the ecosystem matures, the conversation is expanding from building apps to securing them. Goodness Okpani, Chief Security Officer at Ethnos, described their role as providing the “security scaffolding” required for this sustainable innovation.
What to Expect
Organized by Eventhive, Lagos Tech Fest 2026 will serve as the physical meeting point for these digital trends. The event promises to bring together regulators, founders, and investors to debate the future of this “borderless” economy.
For attendees, the message from the sponsor list is clear: The future of African tech is global, it is encrypted, and it is happening now.
