Payment gateway provider Peach Payments has teamed up with crypto payments specialist MoneyBadger to enable merchants to accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases.
The partnership, announced on Monday, aims to expand the use of crypto in retail environments while simplifying digital payments for South African customers, both local and international.
The collaboration allows customers to use a wide range of crypto wallets, including Luno, VALR, Binance, and Bitcoin Lightning wallets such as Aqua, Blink, Breez, Alby, and Strike, to make seamless payments at stores using Peach Payments’ merchant services.
Bitcoin moves closer to daily utility in South Africa
With 68 percent of South Africans reported to own or have bought Bitcoin, one of the highest adoption rates in the world, according to blockchain software firm Consensys, the partnership timing appears ideal.
The companies are tapping into a market where young, tech-savvy users aged 18–34 are eager to adopt flexible and modern payment options.
“South Africans are increasingly moving from holding Bitcoin as an investment vehicle to using their Bitcoin for day-to-day expenses,” said Carel van Wyk, co-founder and CEO of MoneyBadger.
“We’ve been looking for additional partners to expand into the e-commerce space, and Peach Payments made the most sense for us as a business. Their merchant base is strong and open to adding different payment methods.”
This initiative benefits locals, foreign tourists, expats, and digital nomads who often lack access to local bank accounts or cards.
Shores can finalise transactions in seconds by scanning a QR code or clicking a mobile button that populates wallet details. Merchants, in turn, are settled in South African Rand (ZAR) by the next business day, minimising exchange risks and operational disruption.
Also, the real-world impact of this partnership is already evident. According to Anine de Kock, Head of Partnerships at Peach Payments, the first Bitcoin payments processed via the new integration were for spades at a suburban hardware store and light fittings at a specialist lighting shop.
“It is telling,” she noted, “that the first purchases done via MoneyBadger on the Peach Payments platform were for everyday home items, illustrating how mainstream Bitcoin payments are becoming.”
MoneyBadger’s own data underlines the trend: the platform processed 19,536 transactions worth R7.77 million in the first half of 2025, up from 13,338 transactions worth R5.69 million during the same period in 2024.
The median transaction size is R174, with Bitcoin accounting for 73 percent of all crypto payments.
About Peach Payments and MoneyBadger
Founded in South Africa, Peach Payments is a prominent digital payments company that serves online merchants across Africa.
With operations in South Africa, Kenya, and Mauritius, Peach Payments offers a suite of tools that simplify online payments, subscriptions, and e-commerce transactions.
The company has positioned itself as a pioneer in unified payment solutions for the continent.
MoneyBadger, also headquartered in Cape Town, is a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payment solution provider that supports multiple wallets and aims to make crypto use more accessible for merchants and consumers.
In early 2023, it helped major retailer Pick n Pay become the first in Africa to accept crypto at the till, setting a precedent for broader crypto adoption.
The companies plan to expand this solution to other African territories in the near future.