Fintech & payments regulation in Comoros (2026)
Fintech and digital payments in Comoros: partial.
Comoros has a foundational but still-maturing licensing regime for digital payments: the BCC regulates payment service providers and electronic money institutions under Law 20-005 AU and Regulation 01/2017, with several EMI approvals already granted. A new 'Decentralised Digital Financial Institution' (IFDD) licence category was introduced in early 2026, and a national interbank payment infrastructure (Komor Pay) went live in April 2026 with World Bank support. Open banking, BNPL, and instant-retail-payment frameworks remain absent or undeveloped.
Legal framework
Law No. 20-005 AU on Payment Services and Payment Service Providers; Regulation 01/2017 on Electronic Money Issuers; supervised by Banque Centrale des Comores (BCC)
Key points: digital payments & fintech in Comoros
Primary legislation
Law No. 20-005 AU defines the conditions for payment services and governs payment service providers in the Union of Comoros; Banking Law 13-003-AU covers the broader financial sector. The BCC is the sole competent authority for licensing financial institutions.
Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs)
Regulation 01/2017 governs the conditions for electronic money issuers; several non-bank providers have obtained BCC approval as EMIs, including MVola (AXIAN's mobile money service). The BCC warned in June 2022 that approvals issued by island bodies (MISA, AOFA) have no legal effect for banking or financial-institution activities.
New IFDD digital-bank licence (2026)
In February 2026 the BCC granted AXIAN the first 'institution financière digitale décentralisée' (IFDD) licence, creating the first fully digital, BCC-supervised financial institution in Comoros, authorised to offer mobile-based nano- and micro-credits without physical branches.
Instant-payment rails (Komor Pay / Komor Switch)
Komor Pay (ATS), an exclusive interbank automated transfer system, became operational on 23 April 2026, reducing settlement from 3 days to one business day via a dedicated 120 km fibre network. Komor Switch enables interoperability of card terminals across domestic banks. Both initiatives were supported by the World Bank and IMF.
Financial inclusion strategy & PAPSS
In 2024 Comoros adopted its first National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), targeting a 75% financial inclusion rate by 2030, and joined the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to facilitate cross-border transactions in local currencies.
Open banking & BNPL
No dedicated open-banking framework or BNPL-specific regulation has been identified in Comoros as of May 2026. The regulatory perimeter remains focused on payment services and EMI licensing; open-finance and buy-now-pay-later rules are absent.
Sources
- documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/812791592801563444/pdf/Comoros-Payments-and-Settlement-Sys
- fatf-gafi.org/content/dam/fatf-gafi/fsrb-mer/MER-Comoros-May-2024.pdf.coredownload.
- financialafrik.com/2026/02/24/axian-obtient-une-licence-pour-lancer-une-institution-fina
- techafricanews.com/2026/02/24/axian-gains-central-bank-approval-to-launch-regulated-digi
- agenceecofin.com/actualites-numerique/2702-136206-comores-axian-decroche-une-licence-d
- habarizacomores.com/2026/05/la-banque-centrale-des-comores-lance.html
- mayottehebdo.com/actualite/economie/comores-lancement-de-nouveaux-systemes-de-paiement
- afrimag.net/inclusion-financiere-aux-comores-une-premiere-institution-financiere-
- transfi.com/blog/comoros-payment-rails-how-they-work---mobile-banking-remittances
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Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 25 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026