Africa's digital economy is experiencing rapid growth, with increasing online transactions, digital payments, and internet penetration. However, this growth also brings new risks, including cybercrime and online scams. To address these challenges, Mastercard is investing in fraud prevention, threat intelligence, and payment resilience to build a trusted foundation for inclusive, long-term growth. The company's efforts aim to strengthen security across payments, identity, and digital infrastructure.
The scale of the challenge is significant, with INTERPOL's 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment reporting estimated financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025. Cyberattacks targeting African organisations rose by 37% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest ransomware detection rates in the region. Globally, cybercrime costs are projected to reach $15.63 trillion annually by 2029.
Mastercard processed 175 billion transactions in 2025, leveraging insights and advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities faster and with greater precision. The company's cybersecurity approach combines real-time decisioning, identity verification, fraud prevention, and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to detect threats before they occur. AI helps detect and respond to threats in real-time, using behaviour patterns to stop fraud before it happens.
Mastercard's acquisition of Recorded Future in 2024 has enhanced its capabilities to help governments and businesses anticipate risk, strengthen resilience, and safeguard trust across the digital economy. The company's Safety Net technology has helped prevent nearly $50 billion in potential fraud losses across its network over the past three years. Its Payments Resiliency systems protect financial institutions during outages, including those caused by cyberattacks.
Since 2019, Mastercard has invested more than $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovation and supported the development of over 20 cybersecurity-focused start-ups through programmes like Start Path. The company has also launched the Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, a pan-African platform bringing governments, financial institutions, businesses, and cybersecurity leaders together to strengthen digital resilience.
Mastercard collaborates with financial institutions, fintech companies, telecommunications providers, and regulators to embed secure infrastructure into digital platforms, enabling safe and scalable innovation. The company's partnerships with MTN Group and Airtel Africa have extended secure digital payments to underserved communities, supporting financial inclusion. Collaborations with regulators, including the South African Reserve Bank, aim to support secure national payment systems and digital identity frameworks.
As Africa's digital economy matures, the relationship between growth and security will only deepen. The continent's young, increasingly connected population represents an enormous opportunity for economic growth, but it requires a secure and trusted digital ecosystem. Mastercard's efforts to build a more secure, interoperable, and trusted digital ecosystem across Africa will be crucial in creating the conditions for inclusive, sustainable growth for people and businesses.
Key points
- Mastercard has invested over $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovation since 2019.
- The company's Safety Net technology has helped prevent nearly $50 billion in potential fraud losses across its network over the past three years.
- Mastercard's Africa Cybersecurity Center of Excellence aims to strengthen digital resilience across the continent.
