At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of stablecoin payment rails for merchants.
- Company: PawaPay, a pan-African fintech revolutionising payments across the continent.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 35 days paid leave, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team dedicated to improving financial access.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment and shape the future of payments in Africa.
- Qualifications: Experience in crypto product strategy and API development.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
PawaPay is a pan-African fintech enabling local payment channels used by the mass market to both local and international merchants. We operate in a highly regulated, partner-driven environment and are in scale-up mode, with ambitious growth plans across multiple African markets. Our vision is to simplify business for companies and consumers in Africa and we do that by ensuring that payments simply work, at scale, despite fragmentation and complexity that exists on the Continent.
Through our payments API we already facilitate over 4 million transactions a day across 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are the largest PSP on the Continent for the processing of mobile money payments, and have positioned ourselves well to lead the payment space as it grows over the next decade. At PawaPay, there is an entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a modern and professional working culture. The fast-paced, ever-changing environment will suit someone who can adapt and think on their feet. In return, you will have the opportunity to work alongside a group of dedicated and smart individuals working towards the same mission. We work as a remote team and have team members in Europe, UK, Africa and Asia.
As we enter our next phase of growth, we are expanding our payment rails to include stablecoins as a tier‑1 channel, alongside mobile money and banking. We are moving beyond experimentation to building live, production‑grade stablecoin rails processing real payments through our APIs. This role owns the design and delivery of PawaPay’s stablecoin payment rails — including merchant collections, payouts, and merchant settlement through our APIs.
The Head of Crypto will define the product architecture, partner ecosystem, and payment flows that enable stablecoins to function as a tier-1 payment method on the PawaPay platform. The role works closely with Product, Compliance, Treasury, and Operations teams, who retain ownership of regulatory oversight, liquidity management, and operational processes, while ensuring the stablecoin rails integrate cleanly into PawaPay’s broader payments infrastructure.
As the Head of Crypto, you will establish crypto and stablecoins as a tier‑1 payment channel at PawaPay via our API‑first platform, including:
- Stablecoin product strategy and roadmap
- Partner selection and ecosystem design
- Delivery of live rails and payment flows
- Definition of operating models and SOPs
- Prioritisation of crypto initiatives across the business
You will be the internal and external authority on how crypto works at PawaPay, with a particular focus on how exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and other vendors integrate with our rails so merchants can build great consumer experiences on top of us. This role is for a B2B product: your goal is to enable merchants to collect (C2B) and pay (B2C) their customers and vendors using stablecoins through our APIs and other payment products with the best customer experience.
Your main duties will include:
- Defining and owning PawaPay’s stablecoin product strategy across collections, payouts, and merchant settlement
- Translating crypto capabilities into simple, safe, and scalable B2B payment products that merchants can embed
- Ensuring seamless integration with existing mobile money and banking rails, enabling multi-rail orchestration via a single API
- Using insights from exchanges, issuers, and on/off-ramps (pricing, liquidity, UX, risk) to shape product decisions
Partnerships & Ecosystem:
- Selecting and managing partners across stablecoin issuers, blockchains, on/off-ramps, and compliance providers
- Building senior relationships with exchanges, issuers, and global infrastructure partners
- Structuring partnerships balancing liquidity, pricing, and regulatory requirements
- Designing a modular ecosystem that can scale across markets and adapt to regulatory change
Delivery & Execution:
- Working directly with Product and Engineering to design and deliver live stablecoin rails and API endpoints
- Owning execution from concept to production — this is not a coordination role
- Ensuring production readiness, operational clarity, and real transaction throughput
- Defining operating models, SOPs, and internal controls for crypto flows
- Engaging with merchants and partners to continuously improve how our rails are used in real products
Adoption & Growth:
- Driving merchant adoption and transaction volume of stablecoin payment rails
- Partnering with commercial teams to position and scale stablecoin offerings
- Ensuring strong product-market fit across different African markets and use cases
You’ll be particularly well suited if you:
- Have led product or strategy for a customer-facing crypto or stablecoin product with real users and transaction volume
- Have built or owned API-first crypto products used by other businesses (not just retail users)
- Have launched or operated stablecoin or crypto payment flows for merchants, platforms, or marketplaces
- Have worked in regulated environments alongside compliance and legal teams
- Understand fund flows, liquidity, and risk in crypto payment systems
- Have strong intuition for on-chain vs off-chain trade-offs and their impact on UX and scalability
- Bring a strong foundation in payments or fintech (beyond purely Web3 environments)
This role is focused on customer-facing payment infrastructure. Candidates with purely trading, research, or back-office settlement experience without product ownership are unlikely to be a fit.
What will set you apart:
- You are pragmatic and commercially minded — you prioritise what works for merchants over crypto-native purity
- You can simplify complex systems into scalable, developer-friendly products
- You move quickly while maintaining strong risk and compliance alignment
- You take full ownership from idea to live volume
- You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- You bring credibility with partners, regulators, and internal teams
Why this role exists:
- Stablecoins are strategic to PawaPay’s future. This role exists to turn that opportunity into a regulated, reliable, and commercially viable payment rail.
- Without this role: Crypto remains fragmented and under-owned; Time-to-market slows due to unclear ownership; Teams lack a single expert driving execution.
- With this role: Stablecoins become a core, trusted payment rail; PawaPay leads the African market in stablecoin payments; We build defensible infrastructure, partnerships, and regulatory positioning.
Why PawaPay?
- Help improve financial access in Africa
- Being part of an amazing team that shapes company’s culture as a great place to be
- An ambitious, talented, and diverse team who always has your back
- We grow fast, and you will grow fast with us
- Competitive remuneration
- 35 days of paid leave per year (inclusive of public holidays) and more.
Head of Crypto - Digital Assets employer: pawaPay
PawaPay is an exceptional employer that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit within a modern and professional work culture, making it an ideal place for the Head of Crypto role. With a commitment to employee growth and a diverse, ambitious team, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of payments in Africa while enjoying competitive remuneration and 35 days of paid leave per year. Join us in our mission to improve financial access across the continent and be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Crypto - Digital Assets
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fintech and crypto space. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create content around stablecoins and payment systems on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium. This not only showcases your knowledge but also gets you noticed by potential employers looking for thought leaders in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to current employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences at PawaPay and express your enthusiasm for the position. A personal touch can make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it real during interviews! Be prepared to discuss how you would tackle challenges in building stablecoin payment rails. Show your problem-solving skills and adaptability, as these are key traits for thriving in a fast-paced environment like PawaPay.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Crypto - Digital Assets
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Crypto role. Highlight your experience with stablecoins and payment systems, and show us how you can contribute to PawaPay's mission in Africa.
Showcase Your Expertise:We want to see your knowledge of crypto and stablecoin products. Include specific examples of projects you've led or been involved in, especially those that demonstrate your ability to drive adoption and transaction volume.
Keep It Clear and Concise:When writing your application, be straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities of the Head of Crypto role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at pawaPay
✨Know Your Crypto Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of stablecoins and their role in payment systems. Be prepared to discuss how they can be integrated into existing payment rails and the benefits they bring to merchants. This will show your expertise and passion for the field.
✨Understand PawaPay's Vision
Familiarise yourself with PawaPay’s mission to simplify payments across Africa. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals and be ready to share ideas on how you can contribute to their growth, especially in expanding stablecoin usage.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Since this role involves working closely with Product and Engineering teams, brush up on technical concepts related to APIs and payment flows. Be ready to explain how you would approach designing and delivering stablecoin payment rails, as well as any challenges you foresee.
✨Showcase Your Adaptability
PawaPay operates in a fast-paced environment, so highlight your ability to adapt and think on your feet. Share examples from your past where you successfully navigated change or overcame obstacles, demonstrating that you can thrive in a dynamic setting.
