PayPal teams up with TerraPay to boost cross-border payments in MEA

If you've ever tried sending money across borders in Africa or the Middle East, you know how frustrating it can be, from slow transfers to the outrageous fees. But it seems PayPal wants to fix that in partnership with TerraPay.

The main goal here is to make international transfers faster and more seamless for individuals and businesses. With this alliance, users across the Middle East and Africa will soon be able to link their bank accounts or mobile wallets directly to PayPal, whether they’re using a traditional bank or a mobile money service. TerraPay’s tech handles the back-end work as an enabler, bridging the gap through built-in interoperability.

What makes this exciting isn’t just the convenience, it’s the reach. TerraPay already connects financial systems in over 200 countries and territories, acting like a universal adapter for banks, fintech platforms, and mobile wallets that typically operate in silos. In regions like the Middle East and Africa (MEA), where financial access is still growing, this kind of infrastructure could be a game-changer.

But of course, this isn’t just a goodwill gesture. The digital payments market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is projected to hit $251 billion in 2025 and grow to $422 billion by 2030 (via Mordor Intelligence). This presents a viable opportunity to tap into the market, and PayPal clearly wants in. With TerraPay doing the heavy lifting, PayPal gets a frictionless entry into high-growth markets and the chance to offer a more accessible payment experience.

It could also just be one piece of PayPal’s larger puzzle. They recently launched PayPal Open—a consolidated merchant platform preparing for global rollout—and continue expanding their crypto offerings, now supporting seven digital currencies.

Soon, sending money from Lagos to Cairo or paying a freelancer in Accra from your office in Dubai could feel as simple as sending a text. Fewer middlemen. Less friction. And one step closer to a more connected financial ecosystem.

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TechloyEmmanuel Oyedeji