Wave, Visa and Ecobank Senegal launch virtual card to expand online payments

Mobile money has reshaped how millions of Africans send, receive, and store value. Yet for many users, access to online payments beyond local ecosystems has remained out of reach. In Senegal, however, that barrier is beginning to ease.

Wave Mobile Money has officially launched a Visa virtual card, integrated directly into the Wave app, in partnership with Visa and Ecobank Senegal. The virtual card enables users to make online payments on international e-commerce platforms, subscription services, ticketing sites, and digital streaming platforms, without requiring a traditional bank account or a physical card.

The launch represents a meaningful step forward for digital payments in Francophone Africa, where mobile money adoption is widespread, but access to global online commerce has historically been limited.

Extending mobile money into online commerce

Wave has built its footprint by simplifying everyday financial transactions, offering affordable peer-to-peer transfers and merchant payments at scale. With the introduction of the Visa virtual card, the company is extending that same simplicity into online payments, an area long dominated by traditional banking products.

Issued instantly within the Wave app, the virtual card allows users to transact online using funds held in their mobile wallet. This removes the friction of opening a separate bank account or navigating complex onboarding processes, bringing online payments closer to how people already manage money in their daily lives.

Ecobank Senegal is sponsoring the rollout and supporting Wave in the commercialization of the virtual card, contributing its expertise in regulated banking infrastructure and secure digital payment systems. Combined with Visa’s global acceptance network, the partnership connects local mobile money users to international digital platforms.

Shaped by real user demand

The launch follows several months of pilot testing in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. According to Wave, feedback from users during this phase confirmed a strong demand for a simple and transparent way to pay online.

“For several months, we worked hand in hand with our users to refine this solution,” said Karamokho Badiane, Regional Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Wave Mobile Money. “The feedback confirmed a real need for smoother and more accessible online payments, particularly for users who already rely on mobile money for most of their financial transactions.”

Malick Gueye, General Manager of Wave Senegal, described the launch as a key milestone in the company’s mission. “With this virtual card integrated into the Wave app, our users can now pay online with the same ease as their everyday transactions. It is an important step in making financial services more accessible.”

Advancing financial inclusion through partnerships

Across Africa, millions of people remain excluded from online commerce, not because they lack funds, but because they lack access to suitable payment tools. While mobile money has addressed local payments, many global digital services continue to rely on card-based systems linked to formal banking infrastructure.

By integrating a Visa virtual card into a mobile money platform, Wave is narrowing that gap. Users gain access to online services while continuing to operate within a familiar and trusted financial environment.

For Ecobank Senegal, the partnership aligns with its broader Pan African strategy focused on digital financial services. Sahid Yallou, Managing Director of Ecobank Senegal, said the initiative reinforces the bank’s role as a trusted partner to fintechs and its commitment to delivering secure and accessible payment solutions for individuals and businesses.

Visa has positioned the collaboration as part of its wider effort to expand digital payment access across emerging markets. Sandra Gayibor, Country Manager for Visa Senegal, noted that the virtual card provides users with a secure and convenient way to make online purchases, supported by Visa’s global security standards.

A broader signal for African fintech

Beyond Senegal, the launch reflects a wider evolution within Africa’s fintech sector. Mobile money providers are increasingly moving beyond domestic transfers and positioning themselves as gateways to global digital services.

As access to e-commerce, digital content, online education, and remote work platforms becomes more central to economic participation, solutions that connect mobile wallets to international payment networks are becoming essential infrastructure.

Wave, the first unicorn in Francophone Africa, continues to focus on products designed around real user behaviour, prioritising simplicity, transparency, and trust. The virtual card aligns with the company’s long-term vision of supporting a more inclusive, cashless African economy, where transactions are seamless, secure, and accessible.