Zap Africa, the Nigerian startup behind one of the country’s leading non-custodial crypto exchanges, has launched a comprehensive rebrand alongside the rollout of an upgraded version of its core product, Zap Exchange.
The changes, which include a new visual identity and app interface, come as the company seeks to deepen its footprint in Nigeria’s increasingly complex digital asset landscape. With growing demand for decentralised financial tools, Zap’s rebrand aims to align its public image with the sophistication and functionality of its evolving product suite.
Founded to provide users with direct control over their digital assets without relying on custodial intermediaries, Zap has attracted a loyal base of retail crypto users. However, the company’s leadership acknowledged that its original brand identity no longer reflected the maturity or ambition of its current operations.
“As we scaled, it became clear our old design no longer reflected who we were. With Zap version 2 and our expansion plans, we needed a brand identity that reflects the innovation, ambition, and energy of the team today.
“The timing might seem reactionary, but we made a deliberate decision to rebrand because it was time to evolve,” Zap’s Co-founder, Tobi Asu-Johnson, said.
The redesigned platform introduces faster login times, saved wallet addresses, token-specific trading history, and customisable watchlists with real-time price alerts, all part of an effort to enhance usability and speed. These updates are particularly significant in the Nigerian market, where mobile-first and user-centric financial platforms are rapidly gaining traction.
Zap’s Co-founder and CTO, Moore Dagogo-Hart, described the new app experience as a control room for users’ crypto activities.
“Everything is designed to give our users more control, with faster transactions, easier access to their data, and a beautiful interface,” he said.
The announcement also follows the emergence of a trademark dispute involving Paystack, a prominent Nigerian fintech player that recently launched a product under the same name, Zap. While the similarity in timing has raised questions, Zap Africa maintains that its rebrand was initiated months prior, with internal decisions dating back to April 2024.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most dynamic cryptocurrency markets, despite regulatory uncertainties and frequent crackdowns on crypto-related financial institutions. Startups like Zap are navigating this terrain by building infrastructure that prioritises user autonomy, speed, and decentralisation.
As competition intensifies and investor interest grows in Web3 and blockchain infrastructure across the continent, Zap’s rebrand positions it to attract new users, improve market confidence, and potentially expand beyond Nigeria.
Zap Exchange is currently available on Android and iOS.
