RLUSD Goes Global: Ripple Targets Africa’s $86B Payments Market

• Ripple is launching its RLUSD stablecoin in Africa through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. 

• The $700 million stablecoin will help reduce cross-border payment costs across African markets. 

• This expansion follows recent launches in Japan and Europe as part of Ripple’s global rollout strategy.

Ripple has announced the expansion of its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD into African markets. The blockchain payments company will partner with three major fintech platforms to introduce digital assets across the continent.

The expansion targets Africa’s growing digital payments sector through collaborations with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. These partnerships represent Ripple’s continued global rollout strategy following recent launches in Japan and Europe.

RLUSD has achieved a market capitalization exceeding $700 million since its launch in late 2024. The stablecoin’s rapid adoption stems from its regulatory compliance framework and enterprise-focused design.

Strategic Partnerships Drive African Market Entry

One of Africa’s leading fintech applications, Chipper Cash, will integrate RLUSD to enhance cross-border payment capabilities. CEO Ham Serunjogi emphasized the stablecoin’s potential to reduce transaction costs across African markets.

VALR, the continent’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, supported the new listing. Co-founder Farzam Ehsani highlighted the exchange’s commitment to offering compliant digital assets to its user base.

Yellow Card will provide RLUSD access for treasury management and international payment solutions. CEO Chris Maurice noted growing customer demand for stable digital assets that meet regulatory standards.

Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, cited strong adoption patterns across payments, tokenization, and trading applications. The executive stated that African expansion addresses demand in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payment regions.

Global Expansion Strategy Continues

The African launch follows Ripple’s recent international expansion efforts. The company introduced RLUSD in Japan through SBI Holdings and minted an additional $24 million in tokens to increase supply.

Ripple launched RLUSD in European markets through Luxembourg under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. These regulatory-compliant rollouts demonstrate the company’s systematic approach to global expansion.

Stablecoin has applications beyond traditional payments. Mercy Corps Ventures deployed RLUSD in Kenya for climate-related insurance programs. Smart contracts automatically trigger payouts based on satellite weather data for drought and rainfall coverage.

RLUSD integration with Aave’s Horizon platform enables decentralized finance applications. Users can now utilize the stablecoin as collateral in open finance markets, expanding liquidity options for institutions and individual traders.

Africa’s cross-border payment challenges create significant opportunities for blockchain-based solutions. Traditional international transfers remain expensive and slow across many African markets. RLUSD’s compliance-focused design positions it as a viable alternative for businesses and financial institutions seeking efficient payment rails.