From Cape Town to the continent: Scaling growth across Africa’s financial markets

South Africa’s financial landscape is evolving fast. With strong regulation, advanced infrastructure, and growing investor confidence, the country has become a hub for fintech innovation. In this dynamic environment, Cape Town stands out as a place where global finance meets African entrepreneurship.

As Exness opens its new regional office in Cape Town, Chief Marketing Officer Alfonso Cardalda explains how this expansion fits into the company’s global vision and what it means for the local trading community.

South Africa is emerging as a major fintech hub. From a global perspective, what makes its ecosystem stand out today?

South Africa has one of the most advanced financial systems in Africa. It offers strong infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, and clear regulation, the kind of foundation that allows innovation to grow in a stable way.

The local fintech industry is valued at over 7 billion USD and contributes around 40% of Africa’s total fintech revenue. This level of maturity makes South Africa a natural base for long-term growth. It’s where regulation, technology, and talent converge, making fintech not just a trend but an important part of the country’s progress.

Cape Town has often been described as Africa’s fintech capital. Why is it so important to Exness?

Cape Town combines the best of both worlds, bringing together global reach and local insight. It is where our technology meets African creativity and talent.

The city has an impressive startup culture, built on collaboration and innovation. This spirit reflects our own values of precision and transparency. When these elements come together, they create the perfect environment to raise standards and drive progress across the region.

What does the new Cape Town office represent for Exness and for the wider trading community?

This office represents more than just a physical space; it’s a long-term commitment to South Africa and the wider Sub-Saharan region. Being here allows traders and partners to connect with us directly, ensuring faster communication, quicker response times, and a deeper understanding of their needs.

Trust is not built from a distance. It grows through presence and consistency. That’s what this office stands for: transparency, accountability, and collaboration. It also enables us to work more closely with regulators and institutions, which is essential for building sustainable growth.

You’ve spoken before about “reshaping the geography of trading.” What does that mean in practice?

For many years, global trading power was concentrated in cities like London and New York. But technology has changed that. Today, innovation can come from anywhere—from Cape Town and Nairobi to Amman.

At Exness, “reshaping the geography of trading” means creating hubs that empower local traders while sharing global expertise. We are not exporting a single model; we are developing one together with local communities.

How is the South African trading community changing, and how is Exness responding?

Traders here are becoming more analytical, data-driven, and focused on transparency. They expect brokers to match their professionalism and to be reliable, honest, and efficient.

That’s why we openly publish our trading conditions and pricing data. Anyone can verify our figures, because confidence grows when information is easy to access. For us, transparency and trust are not marketing slogans; they are standards we live by.

We also believe knowledge sharing is essential. Through workshops, partnerships, and community events, our local presence allows us to support traders in learning and growing more effectively.

Looking ahead, how do you see collaboration shaping South Africa’s fintech future?

Our vision goes far beyond market share. We aim to play a responsible role in South Africa’s fintech journey by hiring locally, developing skills, and building lasting partnerships.

The lines between brokers, banks, and innovators are becoming less defined, and that’s a positive change. It leads to better products, better experiences, and stronger ecosystems. Collaboration is the next stage of growth, and we are here to help make it happen.

Finally, how does the Cape Town office reflect Exness’ global strategy and values?

As Exness expands across Sub-Saharan Africa with local licenses from the FSCA in South Africa and the CMA in Kenya, our strategy remains clear: combine global expertise with local understanding.

When these two elements come together, you don’t just enter a market, but you help shape its future.

Shaping what’s next

Through its Cape Town office, Exness is able to strengthen its position at the crossroads of global expertise and African innovation. For Alfonso Cardalda, this new chapter is about proximity, trust, and shared progress. These are the values that continue to guide Exness as it supports South Africa’s growing fintech community.