Cardtonic Shines at 2026 BusinessDay’s BAFI Awards, Earns Double Recognition

Renowned fintech giant Cardtonic has bagged two notable awards at the 14th edition of the BusinessDay Banking and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, held on 9th of October, 2026. The event, which was held at the Civic Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, was graced by representatives of banks, insurers, and financial institutions, among others.

Cardtonic was nominated and won both the Digital Payments Disruptor of the Year and Virtual Access Card Market Leader of the Year awards. For many people familiar with the fintech company, this development comes as no surprise.

Over the years, the company has distinguished itself by providing innovative financial solutions to everyday users. Its services have been so excellent that Cardtonic has become a go-to option for payment tools that work when needed in Nigeria, Ghana, and more.

Of course, a milestone like this calls for celebrations. But for a company like Cardtonic, it’s more than popping champagne; it’s a catalyst to do more. That’s just the culture. And one can only wonder how high the bar can be raised!

From Gift Card Trading to Winning Big at BAFI 2026.

Today, Cardtonic sits at the same table as banks and other respected traditional financial institutions, but it’s been a long journey to get here.

Founded as a gift card trading platform in 2019, the fintech brand entered the Nigerian market that was less receptive to the gift card revolution then. With sheer resilience and grit, the self-bootstrapped fintech giant built a reputation many in the gift card industry now respect. Then, it ventured into virtual dollar card and bill payment services, to name but a few. Now, the company is getting the recognition it deserves.

Cardtonic was named Digital Payments Disruptor of the Year at the 2026 BAFI Awards, and if the truth must be told, many expected it. For a platform that launched its tap-to-pay Platinum Card with Apple and Google Pay integration, enabled stablecoins funding for its virtual dollar cards, and all in 2026, the fintech brand is the head that that crown fits.

And no, those were not just product or feature releases. They were steps to make global payments more seamless for Nigerians, Ghanaians, and citizens of 140+ countries worldwide. Every innovation is user-centred: from gift card trading services to local and international bill payments and the latest platinum card. That has always been the Cardtonic way.

• Digital finance must prove it can protect consumers, experts warn
• NIBSS, Transactility to power Nigeria’s next-gen national payment stack
• CBN maintains deadline for local data storage

The Virtual Access Card Market Leader of the Year award is also well deserved. Cardtonic virtual dollar cards have removed the barriers to global payments for individuals and businesses. Numerous online testimonials show that the company has truly redefined global spending with its virtual dollar cards.

And, of course, these awards aren’t just for Cardtonic’s executives. Neither are they for CEO Emmanuel Sohe and Ima Asuquo (Lead Creative Associate), who both received the awards on behalf of the fintech giant. These wins belong to every member of the Cardtonic family; the entire team, users, and everyone who has supported Cardtonic products over the years.

Beyond the Awards: What Comes Next for Cardtonic

Cardtonic’s history can be summed up in one word: progressiveness. The company shows a clear upward trajectory over the years.

While this award is a proud moment for everyone at the company, it’s far from being the end of the road.  Other fintech companies might get wins like these and relax, but for Cardtonic, it’s more motivation to keep pushing the boundaries of financial innovations.

“The team has reached a standard, and ‘the bar can only go higher.’ It is ‘good pressure’ to maintain that standard and surpass it next year,” Ima Asuquo, Lead Creative Associate at Cardtonic, rightly puts.

Closing Thoughts

It’s one thing to provide innovative solutions and excellent services. It’s entirely another to get recognised for them. The gap between those two is where some companies lose the drive to innovate. That’s why the impact of BusinessDay’s BAFI Awards cannot be overemphasised.

Recognising institutional excellence also creates ripple effects beyond what people sometimes think. As Cardtonic’s innovative work is being celebrated, other financial institutions will tend to emulate the culture of pushing what’s possible. Exciting times for the financial industry!