Twitter Adds Paga And Flutterwave As Payment Providers for Tipping in Nigeria

Twitter has announced that its tipping feature is now available to its Nigerian users. As an added bonus, along side Bitcoin and Ethereum wallet address support, Twitter has added pan-African payment solutions Paga and Flutterwave as payment providers for its new feature.

Twitter started its tipping feature in September of 2021, supporting Bitcoin via the lightning network, as a way for people to send money through cryptocurrency and other means on its social media platform. Although criticized, the feature is used by a large number of the people in the country the feature is supported.

The inclusion of additional African-focused payment providers to Twitter’s Tips feature shows that the social media giant is trying to create access and bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world. It also shows the microblogging site’s willingness to create opportunities for people on the African continent especially now that it has set up an office in Ghana.

What is Twitter Tips?

Tips is a feature that lets you add links to select third-party payment services to your Twitter profile. When you turn on Tips on your profile, people can support you by tapping on your Tips icon to send you money or Bitcoin off-platform via the third-party payment services and platforms you have added.

With Tips, you have an easy way to direct people to links to your payment profiles, whether you want to support a content creator, help someone fundraise, tip someone who just needs some help or thank someone for making you laugh.

Where is Tips available?

For people on iOS and Android, you’ll see the money icon on the profile pages of people who have set up Tips on their profile. For people on Android, you’ll also find it on their profile while in Twitter Spaces.

Note: Currently Tips is not available on web.

What you should know

• Nigeria is not the only African country that now supports the feature. As you would expect, Ghana is also on the list. Outside Africa, the firm added India to the list and also added an Indian-focused payment provider, Paytm.
• Flutterwave and Paga are companies both leading when it comes to the payment and financial services ecosystem of Africa. Flutterwave in particular will use its by-product known as Barter, on the tipping feature. Barter is a web and mobile app that allows its users to send and receive money from abroad instantly, and safely, at affordable rates.
• Flutterwave also made news as the firm was able to raise $250 million in funding round led by B Capital Group and also saw participation from Alta Park Capital, Whale Rock Capital, Lux Capital among others while existing investors involved include Glynn Capital, Avenir Growth, Tiger Global, Green Visor Capital and Salesforce Ventures. This funding round put the company’s valuation at $3 billion.