On Thursday, Ripple, the U.S.-based blockchain payments firm, announced that its U.S.-dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), will debut in Africa through partnerships with Yellow Card, VALR, and Chipper Cash.
The company’s blog post revealed that the rollout aims to strengthen cross-border payment efficiency while offering African institutions access to a regulated, compliance-first stablecoin.
The collaboration is part of the payment platform’s push to integrate RLUSD into financial ecosystems worldwide, following its rapid global adoption since launching in late 2024.
Ripple is building institutional trust in Africa
RLUSD has already surpassed $700 million in circulation and is issued by a New York limited-purpose trust company regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). Ripple emphasised that compliance and institutional-grade reliability are at the heart of RLUSD’s design, making it a strong alternative to stablecoins like USDT and USDC.
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, noted that RLUSD has gained momentum in enterprise use cases such as tokenisation, collateral management, and payments. He said bringing the token to Africa reflects the growing global demand for trusted digital dollar solutions.
The expansion offers immediate utility for Ripple’s African partners. Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice described RLUSD as a natural addition to the company’s mission of building secure and compliant payment rails across emerging markets.
VALR’s CEO, Farzam Ehsani, echoed this view, calling RLUSD a “trusted stablecoin option” for institutional and retail clients. He said the listing aligns with VALR’s commitment to providing high-quality, regulatory-compliant digital assets for Africa’s growing crypto economy.
Meanwhile, Chipper Cash CEO Ham Serunjogi noted that after integrating Ripple Payments earlier this year, enabling RLUSD was the next step to unlock faster and more efficient cross-border transactions for its clients.
Techpression reported in April that Ripple is also testing RLUSD’s potential for humanitarian applications. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures is piloting climate-linked insurance programs backed by the stablecoin, with payouts triggered by satellite and weather data during droughts or extreme rainfall.
Globally, RLUSD is listed on major exchanges such as Gemini, Kraken, and Uphold, and was recently approved for use in Dubai’s regulated financial hub. The company has also signalled expansion plans into Asia, with Japan identified as a future market.
The deal targets cheaper remittance transfers
With remittance costs in Africa often ranging from 5–10 per cent, RLUSD’s entry is expected to cut fees to 1–3 per cent, offering businesses and individuals cheaper, faster, and more reliable transaction options.
By embedding RLUSD into Ripple Payments and distributing through partners like Yellow Card, VALR, and Chipper Cash, the blockchain company is positioning its stablecoin as a key tool for advancing Africa’s digital economy, one that merges compliance, innovation, and real-world impact.