Rethinking Infrastructure: Building Fintech for Africa, From the Ground Up - Interview with Obi Emetarom

Obi Emetarom, CEO and co-founder of Zone.

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Innovation in fintech often gets tied to user experience, app design, or speed. But there’s another layer — one that sits beneath the surface: infrastructure. It’s the part that isn’t flashy, but without it, nothing works.

In emerging markets like Africa, this layer matters even more. Payment reliability, system visibility, and compliance aren’t edge cases — they’re the core. Solving them isn’t about marginal improvement; it’s about enabling access, trust, and growth at scale.

In this interview,** Obi Emetarom — CEO and co-founder of Zone** — explains why real change depends on rethinking foundational systems, not just building new apps. From overcoming skepticism around blockchain to building regulatory trust into every layer, he offers a practical look at what meaningful innovation in fintech really takes.

Enjoy the full interview.

1. What motivated you to focus your career on developing technology solutions for financial services in Africa?

My first exposure to the financial services industry came early in my career when I worked at a bank shortly after my undergraduate studies in computer science. It was clear to me then that many of the systems in place were ripe for transformation.

I saw countless inefficiencies; manual processes, fragmented systems, and unreliable infrastructure that hindered progress. That experience left a lasting impression.

Over time, as the financial ecosystem evolved, it became apparent that deeper systemic challenges; like payment reliability, settlement delays, and infrastructure failure, required not just incremental improvements, but a complete rethinking of how the foundational layers were built. 
Throughout my journey, my core motivation has remained the same, leveraging technology to build more resilient, scalable, and inclusive financial systems.

2. How has your background in engineering influenced your approach to building innovative financial systems and infrastructure?

Engineering teaches you to think in systems and to always optimize for performance, scalability, and resilience. It teaches you to solve the root causes of issues, and this mindset led me to believe that failures in traditional payment systems such as manual reconciliation and limited visibility had to be addressed.

3. What do you consider the biggest challenges you’ve faced in creating blockchain-based payment solutions?

The biggest challenge was perception; specifically, convincing regulators and financial institutions that blockchain, often associated with unregulated crypto activity, could be a viable foundation for secure, compliant payments.
Another challenge was the chicken-and-egg dynamic: banks were hesitant to join unless other banks were already integrated.

4. What role do regulatory compliance and interoperability play in the successful implementation of digital payment systems?

They are foundational. Without regulatory compliance, no digital payment system, however innovative, can operate sustainably at scale. Compliance ensures trust, protects consumers, and provides the guardrails needed for the stability of the broader financial ecosystem. Interoperability, on the other hand, is what allows different financial systems and institutions to communicate, exchange value seamlessly, and deliver a truly inclusive financial experience.

A well-designed digital payment system today must embed compliance and interoperability at its core. Real-time regulatory oversight mechanisms, seamless integration across different platforms, and instant reconciliation between participants are essential features. Together, they ensure that payments are not only faster and more efficient but also transparent, resilient, and universally accessible.

5. How do you see the ongoing political and regulatory shifts towards cryptocurrencies affecting the broader adoption of blockchain technology?

The regulatory shift toward cryptocurrencies has brought blockchain technology into sharper focus. While regulators rightly remain cautious about speculative crypto assets, they are increasingly recognizing blockchain’s utility in building transparent, secure financial systems.

That distinction is critical as we are talking about digitizing fiat transactions using blockchain, not crypto. What we’re seeing is that as regulators become more comfortable with blockchain’s capabilities and risks, they are more open to its responsible application. The partnership with national payment infrastructure providers to run oversight functions on blockchain is a prime example of how blockchain can enhance, not bypass, regulation.

6. From your experience, what are the key factors that drive successful innovation and growth in the fintech industry?

It starts with solving real problems. Too often, we see innovation for its own sake. The most successful fintechs are the ones that deeply understand the market’s pain points and deliver solutions that are not only novel but truly valuable.

Equally important is timing. The market must be ready, whether in terms of regulation, infrastructure, or user behavior. And finally, execution: ideas are only as good as your ability to bring them to life reliably, securely, and at scale.

I believe staying laser-focused on the fundamentals, such as payment reliability, frictionless operations, and regulatory alignment, is key to success. Those aren’t glamorous problems, but solving them unlocks massive value for everyone in the ecosystem.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful impact in the world of financial technology?

Start by understanding the ecosystem, not just the technology, but the institutions, regulations, and customer behaviors that define it. Financial services is a complex, high-stakes industry where trust is everything.

Second, embrace the hard problems. The biggest opportunities lie in fixing foundational issues, not chasing trends. And lastly, collaborate, whether with regulators, banks, or other startups. In fintech, the future belongs to those who can build bridges, not just products.