Ethiopia’s digital payment ecosystem is evolving at an unprecedented pace. While the past few years have been dominated by interoperability, ensuring that banks, mobile money providers, and fintechs can communicate with one another, the next leap is orchestration : making the entire ecosystem move in harmony. Why Interoperability Isn’t Enough Interoperability lays the groundwork. It ensures that a transaction from Bank A can reach Bank B, or that a mobile wallet can connect to an ATM. But technical readiness alone doesn’t guarantee adoption. As EthSwitch’s internal reports show, having the rails in place is just step one, real impact comes when these rails are actively used . For instance: IPS volumes have grown to 128 million transactions in FY 2024/25. ETHQR merchant penetration is expanding but unevenly across regions. Bulk payments, E-Mandates, and PISP use cases are technically ready but await activation by member financial institutions. These numbers highlight...