Visa and Yellow Card to Pilot Stablecoin Cross-Border Payments in Africa

Last Updated on June 20, 2025

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Key Takeaways:

  • Visa and Yellow Card are partnering to launch stablecoin-based cross-border payments in Africa, starting in 2025 with broader rollout in 2026.
  • Stablecoins are rapidly gaining popularity in Sub-Saharan Africa due to limited access to US dollars and currency exchange challenges.
  • Yellow Card, active in 20 countries, has processed over $6 billion and is Africa’s first licensed stablecoin payments provider.

Visa has partnered with Yellow Card Financial, Africa’s first licensed stablecoin payments provider, to promote the adoption of digital dollars across the continent.

The collaboration aims to enhance cross-border payments in emerging markets where Yellow Card operates, starting with one African country in 2025 and expanding further in 2026.

Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice emphasized that the initiative will improve treasury operations, liquidity management, and lower the costs of international money transfers.

Stablecoins are rapidly gaining popularity in Sub-Saharan Africa due to limited access to US dollars and foreign exchange issues.

These dollar-pegged digital assets, such as USDT and USDC, are seen as reliable alternatives and now account for approximately 43% of the region’s total crypto transaction volume.

Yellow Card, founded in Nigeria in 2019, operates in 20 countries and has processed over $6 billion in transactions.

The move reflects a broader trend of traditional financial institutions integrating with blockchain-based solutions.

It also follows Circle’s recent partnership with Onafriq to test USDC payments across 40 African countries.

Maurice noted that all major payment companies are exploring stablecoin solutions, signaling increasing momentum for digital dollar infrastructure in Africa’s financial ecosystem.

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