Cryptocurrency exchange Yellow Card Financial Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with global payments giant Visa to promote cross-border payments in emerging markets.
The collaboration was unveiled by the company on Wednesday as a move to enhance stablecoin settlement infrastructure, leveraging blockchain innovation to make international transactions faster, cheaper, and more efficient across Africa and beyond.
Yellow Card advancing financial access in Africa
The deal, signed between the two industry leaders, will explore ways to streamline treasury operations, improve liquidity management, and facilitate seamless cross-border transfers using stablecoins.
Yellow Card CEO and co-founder Chris Maurice emphasised the significance of Visa’s extensive reach, stating, “Visa sells virtually to every bank in the world, so it opens up opportunities to work with the broader financial institutions that can benefit from the technology the most.”
Founded in 2016, Yellow Card has rapidly grown into Africa’s leading licensed stablecoin payments provider, operating in nearly 20 countries across the continent.
The partnership with Visa will enable the company to leverage the payment giant’s extensive platforms, thereby further expanding access to digital financial solutions in underserved markets.
The CEO and co-founder of the company stressed the growing enthusiasm for stablecoins, noting, “When you look at stablecoins, there’s a lot of excitement in the market, and all the major payment companies are exploring ways to get into the space.”
The Africa cryptocurrency exchange plans to roll out stablecoin transactions with Visa in at least one African market this year, with further expansions to follow.
The push comes amid increasing digital adoption in Africa, with countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana actively developing regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies.
A growing regulatory landscape
Africa’s digital asset ecosystem is growing, with Mauritius becoming the first African nation to enact crypto-specific laws in 2021, followed by Botswana issuing its first license in 2022. Six additional countries, along with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) bloc, have also established regulatory frameworks.
Since its operational launch in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has processed over $6 billion in transaction volume, serving banks, financial institutions, multinational corporations, and fintech startups. The Visa partnership marks a major step toward mainstreaming stablecoins for everyday financial operations.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, processes transactions across more than 200 countries and territories. The company’s mission to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network aligns with Yellow Card’s vision of financial inclusion through blockchain technology.
As stablecoins gain traction, this collaboration could redefine how businesses and consumers in emerging markets move money, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the future of digital payments.
With regulatory clarity improving and major players like Visa entering the space, Africa is poised to become a hotspot for blockchain-driven financial innovation.