Startbutton, the leading African merchant of record, today announced its partnership with Condia, a pan-African tech publication, to launch "The State of Merchant of Record in Africa," a comprehensive new report detailing a critical and rapidly growing sector of the continent's digital economy. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the Merchant of Record (MoR) landscape, revealing it as a $125.55 billion market opportunity in 2025.

The report highlights the pivotal role MoRs play in enabling e-commerce, which is projected to exceed $180 billion in Africa by 2025. A Merchant of Record acts as a legal entity responsible for processing customer payments, managing local tax and regulatory compliance, and mitigating the financial risks associated with cross-border sales.  This model is proving essential for businesses navigating the complexities of the African market.

Key insights from the report include:

• Businesses leveraging MoR platforms can cut their market entry time from 6–12 months to as little as 24 hours.
  
  

• MoRs significantly improve payment success rates—from a low of 25–40% with traditional global processors to up to 90%.

"Merchants of Record are not just a facilitator for African businesses; they're a catalyst," said Mallick Bolakale, CEO of Startbutton. "In a continent brimming with entrepreneurial spirit, MoRs are removing the friction from cross-border commerce and unlocking access to global markets.  This report, developed with Condia's data expertise, illuminates the path forward for digital commerce in Africa."

⬇️ Download the report here