Sending money home or saving for the future should be simple. Yet across much of Africa, the financial system makes it anything but. An overseas worker loses nearly 10% of every remittance to fees before it reaches his family. A shopkeeper saves in local currency, only to see inflation erase months of earnings overnight.
High costs, slow speeds, and limited access define the current financial system, making it difficult for individuals and businesses to save, send payments, or plan securely for the future. For the 41% of Africans without a bank account, the challenges are even greater: cash is often the only option, forcing long trips to transfer agents, the burden of carrying physical notes, and exposure to theft or loss.
Yet Africa is also a frontier for financial innovation and inclusion. From mobile money adoption to crypto-powered payment rails, the region has long shown how technology can leapfrog traditional barriers and deliver tangible benefits. This is the promise of the stablecoin: a stable, secure alternative to the volatility of local currencies and the friction of traditional finance.
Now, a new chapter is beginning. Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, is officially arriving in Africa. Through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card, RLUSD will power faster, cheaper, more accessible financial services across the continent.
The Stablecoin Solution Africa Needs
Cryptocurrency breaks down borders, enabling anyone with an internet connection to transact globally and across currencies—something traditional financial systems haven’t always been successful in delivering in Africa. Stablecoins are filling the gap by addressing three persistent challenges: speed, affordability, and access.
Speed: Stablecoin transactions settle in seconds, compared to days with legacy systems.
Affordability: Fees are dramatically lower, making remittances and payments more sustainable for individuals and businesses.
Accessibility: Stablecoins remove the middlemen and red tape that inflate costs and slow transfers.
But speed, cost, and access tell only part of the story. Across much of the continent, currency volatility, foreign exchange shortages and inflation pose even greater challenges. For many businesses, stablecoins have become a lifeline—serving as proxies for scarce U.S. dollars and keeping trade moving when traditional financial channels fall short.
This is where RLUSD makes its difference. Pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar and issued under the highest compliance standards, RLUSD provides a stable, trusted store of value that works in the real world. For individuals, it means protecting hard-earned savings; for businesses, reliable access to the capital needed to trade, grow, and connect to the global economy.
Local Partners, Continental Impact
RLUSD’s arrival in Africa is being powered by three of the continent’s most trusted fintech leaders.
ChipperCash, with its mission to make cross-border payments faster and more affordable, is integrating RLUSD to give millions of users seamless access to a stable digital dollar;
VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange with more than 1.3 million users, is listing RLUSD to meet rising demand for compliant, high-quality digital assets from both retail and institutional clients;
Yellow Card, a leading provider of payment infrastructure across emerging markets, is enabling RLUSD for treasury management and cross-border transactions, reinforcing its commitment to enterprise-grade financial solutions.
Together, these partnerships ensure RLUSD is not only available in Africa but embedded in the region’s financial infrastructure—delivering a compliant, enterprise-grade stablecoin through platforms millions already rely on.
Beyond Payments: RLUSD’s Wider Momentum in Africa
RLUSD transforms more than cross-border payments in Africa—it builds financial infrastructure where none existed before.
Take Kenya’s agricultural sector. Ripple has partnered with Mercy Corps Ventures to deliver parametric insurance for farmers. When satellite data signals drought or extreme rainfall, smart contracts trigger instant payouts, and farmers receive funds within hours, not weeks. This approach eliminates traditional insurance pain points: endless paperwork, disputed claims, delayed settlements. When climate strikes, families get help immediately.
RLUSD operates at the grassroots level, creating resilience networks that traditional banking can't replicate. It's not just changing how money moves, but redefining how communities protect themselves against financial uncertainty.
The Future is Inclusive and Powered by Trust
Africa’s financial transformation won’t be driven by crypto hype—it will be powered by tools that solve real problems. Across the continent, stablecoins are proving their worth as practical solutions that cut remittance costs, protect against inflation, and deliver services like instant crop insurance to farmers who need it most.
RLUSD meets Africa at this pivotal moment. Through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card, it's delivering the stability, compliance, and accessibility that communities and enterprises demand. Across key financial hubs on the continent, RLUSD is building the financial infrastructure that traditional systems couldn't provide.
The future of African finance won’t be built on legacy systems. It will be built on blockchain rails that respond to real-world needs in real time.
Learn more about RLUSD and discover how it's transforming financial services across Africa and beyond.
