16/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE
Abba Payments Announces Strategic Initiative to Establish a Digital-First Microbanking Institution Focused on Modern Financial Infrastructure
Abba Payments has commenced a strategic initiative to establish a digital-first microbanking institution focused on advancing transparent, scalable, and technology-enabled financial infrastructure. The initiative builds upon the company’s experience developing digital payment and market infrastructure solutions, including Namibia Digital Dollar (NADD) and Namibia 30 Index (NAX30), and remains subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
OSHAKATI, Namibia — July 16, 2026:—
Abba Payments today announced the commencement of a strategic initiative to establish a digital-first microbanking institution focused on advancing modern, transparent, and scalable financial infrastructure and services across emerging markets.
The proposed institution is being developed as a technology-enabled financial services platform designed around operational efficiency, customer accessibility, financial inclusion, and responsible innovation. The initiative aims to establish a modern banking model supported by scalable digital infrastructure, strong governance frameworks, and transparent service delivery.
The proposed institution remains subject to incorporation, regulatory engagement, licensing approval, and compliance with applicable legal, prudential, and supervisory requirements. The initiative is evaluating suitable regulatory jurisdictions, including Namibia, Mauritius, and Seychelles, based on regulatory frameworks, market opportunities, and long-term strategic objectives.
The initiative is founded by Simon Kapenda, entrepreneur and founder of Oshakati, Namibia-based Abba Payments (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd., a financial technology (FinTech) company developing digital financial infrastructure initiatives focused on payments, market infrastructure, and emerging financial technologies.
Simon Kapenda is the creator of Namibia Digital Dollar (NADD) (https://nadd.io), a blockchain-native stablecoin initiative designed to represent the Namibian Dollar (NAD) value on-chain on a 1-on-1 parity basis through a transparent reserve-backed framework supporting digital payments, settlement, and financial infrastructure.
He is also the creator of Namibia 30 Index (NAX30) (https://nax30.io), a rules-based, blockchain-native equity market benchmark referencing 30 selected companies listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX), designed to provide transparent digital market data infrastructure for tracking market performance.
Building upon this foundation, the proposed microbanking institution seeks to develop a modern financial services model leveraging emerging financial technologies, including distributed ledger systems where applicable, to enhance transparency, efficiency, interoperability, and accessibility across financial services.
The institution’s long-term vision is to support individuals, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises, and businesses through digitally enabled financial products and services while contributing to the development of inclusive and resilient financial infrastructure.
The proposed institution will be guided by the following principles:
* Digital-first financial services — delivering accessible and efficient financial products through scalable technology infrastructure.
* Transparency and accountability — implementing strong governance, compliance, risk management, cybersecurity, and reporting frameworks.
* Financial inclusion — expanding access to secure and affordable financial services for individuals and businesses.
* Technology-enabled infrastructure — applying modern financial technologies to improve operational efficiency, interoperability, and service delivery.
The establishment process will prioritize regulatory compliance, institutional governance, consumer protection, operational resilience, and independent assurance mechanisms consistent with applicable regulatory expectations.
"Financial infrastructure is undergoing significant transformation globally. Our objective is to contribute to this evolution by developing a modern financial services platform built around transparency, efficiency, responsible innovation, and long-term institutional sustainability," said Simon Kapenda, Founder of Abba Payments.
"The development of NADD and NAX30 provided practical experience in building technology-enabled financial infrastructure. This initiative represents the next stage in developing trusted financial platforms that can support individuals, businesses, and the broader digital economy."
Abba Payments will continue evaluating regulatory pathways, institutional partnerships, technology frameworks, and operational requirements necessary for the establishment of the proposed microbanking institution.
Further announcements will be made as the initiative progresses through applicable incorporation, regulatory, and licensing processes.
About Abba Payments
Founded by Simon Kapenda in Oshakati, Namibia in 2022, Abba Payments (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd. is a financial technology company developing digital financial infrastructure initiatives focused on payments, market infrastructure, and next-generation financial services.
The company's ecosystem includes:
Namibia Digital Dollar (NADD) (https://nadd.io) — a blockchain-native stablecoin initiative designed to represent the Namibian Dollar (NAD) value on-chain through a transparent reserve-backed framework and support digital payments, settlement, transfers, and ecosystem transactions.
Namibia 30 Index (NAX30) (https://nax30.io) — a rules-based, blockchain-native equity market benchmark referencing 30 selected companies listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX), providing transparent digital market infrastructure for tracking market performance.
Together, these initiatives form part of a broader financial infrastructure ecosystem focused on digital payments, market data infrastructure, and future regulated financial services.
Media Contact
Abba Payments
Oshakati, Namibia
Email: [email protected]
