Hydrogen Reports Exceptional Growth in 2024
Hydrogen, a subsidiary fintech of Access Corporation, which is affiliated with Nigeria’s largest bank by active accounts, has announced a remarkable profit of 1.8 billion ₦ (approximately 1.18 million USD) for the financial year 2024. This impressive figure marks a nearly tenfold increase from the previous year’s profit of 161 million ₦ (around 100,290 USD).
Strategic Transition Fueling Success
This surge in profitability underscores the success of Hydrogen’s strategic transition to a Holding company structure initiated in 2020. The restructuring has enabled the company to capitalize on diverse financial opportunities, with significant growth observed within just two years of incorporation.
Strong Contributions from Core Banking Segment
Additionally, the core banking segment has showcased robust performance, reporting a profit of 642.2 billion ₦ (399,892,896 USD) for the entire year of 2024. This performance has been buoyed by the prevailing high-interest rate environment in Nigeria, allowing traditional banking operations to thrive alongside fintech innovations.
Hydrogen’s Ambitious Growth Plans
Founded in 2022 and fully operational by 2023, Hydrogen has laid out ambitious growth plans. The company has successfully increased transaction volumes, expanded its network of partnerships, and focused on enhancing operational efficiency. As it enters its third year, Hydrogen reported an operating income of $10 billion (6,236,902 USD) by December 2024, a significant rise from the 2.08 billion ₦ (1,295,183 USD) recorded the previous year.
Diverse Product Offerings
Hydrogen offers a wide variety of financial products and services, including Instantpay, Payment Gateway, point of sale (POS) systems, Card services, and Switch services. In 2023 alone, the fintech handled an impressive volume of transactions, totaling approximately 15 billion ₦ (8.97 billion USD) across its various platforms, showcasing its strong market presence.
Competition in the Fintech Landscape
As Hydrogen competes with other fintech solutions backed by Access Bank, such as GTCO’s Habaripay and Stanbic IBTC’s offerings, it also faces competition from independent players like Flutterwave, Moniepoint, and Paystack. Hydrogen distinguishes itself as one of the few fintech firms connected to Nigeria’s five major banks, demonstrating its capability to generate significant profits amidst a challenging financial landscape.
Future Outlook for Hydrogen
With Nigeria’s economy increasingly leaning towards effective cash flow management, Hydrogen’s prospects look promising. The company’s innovative approach, combined with the growing demand for digital financial services, positions it well for continued growth and success in the evolving fintech sector. As it moves forward, Hydrogen aims to leverage its strengths and expand its footprint in the Nigerian market and beyond.