Ripple, a leading provider of digital financial infrastructure, has officially expanded the reach of its stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD) to Africa. Backed 1:1 by the US dollar, RLUSD has already surpassed $700 million in market capitalization since its launch in late 2024, underscoring its rapid adoption in both institutional and retail markets.
The company has partnered with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card to distribute RLUSD across the continent. According to Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, RLUSD has already demonstrated strong utility in areas such as cross-border payments, tokenization, and collateralization. He emphasized that Africa is a key market given its demand for affordable and reliable digital dollars.
This move addresses one of Africa’s biggest financial challenges: the world’s highest remittance costs. A recent Messari report noted that sub-Saharan Africa leads globally in expensive money transfers, a barrier that stifles economic inclusion. RLUSD’s expansion offers a potential solution by enabling faster, cheaper, and more transparent payments through blockchain infrastructure.
Chipper Cash CEO, Ham Serunjogi, highlighted that the integration aligns with their vision of delivering low-cost financial services to African customers. Similarly, Farzam Ehsani, CEO of VALR, pointed out that listing RLUSD meets the rising demand for a trusted and compliant digital dollar. On the same note, Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card, explained that RLUSD provides their users with secure cross-border payment options and improved liquidity management.
Beyond financial services, Ripple is also piloting social impact initiatives with RLUSD. In Kenya, the stablecoin is being used in climate insurance programs run by Mercy Corps Ventures. Through smart contracts, funds are automatically released to farmers affected by droughts or heavy rainfall, ensuring fair, transparent, and timely payouts based on satellite data.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that stablecoin flows in sub-Saharan Africa already account for nearly 7% of the region’s GDP, while Yellow Card’s research suggests they make up 43% of crypto trading volumes. These figures highlight just how integral stablecoins are becoming to Africa’s financial ecosystem.
Ripple’s expansion comes on the heels of its $200 million acquisition of the payments project Rail, aimed at accelerating RLUSD adoption worldwide. With Africa’s crypto transaction volumes reaching $125 billion between July 2023 and June 2024, the continent is emerging as a key battleground for stablecoin adoption.
Conclusion: The expansion of RLUSD into Africa is more than a financial milestone—it’s a strategic step in transforming how millions access cross-border payments, liquidity solutions, and climate resilience tools. With trusted partners and regulatory-compliant infrastructure, Ripple is positioning RLUSD as a cornerstone of Africa’s digital finance revolution.
