Yonas Tibebu

The global financial landscape has always been cyclical growth, disruption, and recovery. Yet, the speed and interconnectedness of today’s economy mean that shocks no longer stay local; they ripple across borders in seconds. From the 2008 financial meltdown to the COVID-19 liquidity crunch and the geopolitical tensions reshaping trade and currency flows, every crisis has left behind one undeniable truth: 👉 Resilience isn’t built during stability; it’s tested in uncertainty. 1️⃣ Fragmentation Is the New Reality Globalization once promised efficiency and open trade. Now, economic nationalism, sanctions, and regional conflicts are redrawing the map of financial connectivity. For countries like Ethiopia integrating into the global financial system while strengthening domestic infrastructure this fragmentation presents both vulnerabilities and opportunities . 2️⃣ Lessons from Past Crises Liquidity matters more than leverage. In every global shock, institutions that maintained ...

Cross-border payments are the arteries of global commerce yet, for decades, they’ve been slow, expensive, and opaque. From SWIFT messaging to correspondent banking chains, friction has long been part of the cost of doing business internationally. But the world is shifting. As globalization meets digital transformation, we’re entering the era of Cross-Border Payments 2.0  where technology, policy, and partnerships are converging to make money move as fast and easily as information. From SWIFT to Smart Connectivity For over 50 years, SWIFT has been the backbone of international payments reliable but not real-time. With multi-hop networks, settlement delays, and high fees, it wasn’t built for the instant digital economy. Now, new models are emerging : Instant payment corridors connecting domestic real-time payment systems. API-based connectivity between banks, fintechs, and switches. Interoperable regional networks like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PA...