- Ripple launches RLUSD in Africa with partners to broaden digital payment access.
- Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card will drive the adoption of RLUSD for settlements.
- Mercy Corps pilots in Kenya show RLUSD’s potential for blockchain-based climate risk insurance.
Ripple has expanded the reach of its enterprise-grade USD-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), into Africa through new partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. The rollout comes as stablecoins increasingly serve as faster and cheaper alternatives to traditional financial systems, especially in regions where access to banking services and reliable currencies remains limited.
As the remittance market in Africa is currently over $100 billion yearly, the launch of RLUSD is an indication of a cost-cutting measure to streamline settlement efficiency in one of the fastest-growing payment markets in the world.
RLUSD Rollout and Regulatory Foundation
The main idea behind RLUSD was designed in late 2024 with the three principles of compliance, trust, and utility. The stablecoin is issued by a New York limited-purpose trust company and governed by the New York Department of Financial Services.
Since launch, RLUSD has surpassed $700 million in circulation across Ethereum and XRP. Ripple stated that this momentum underlines the global demand for a stable, compliance-first dollar-backed digital asset for both institutional and retail use cases.
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, explained the company’s approach to global expansion. “RLUSD has quickly become established in enterprise financial use cases, from payments to tokenization to collateral in both crypto and traditional trading markets,” he said. McDonald added that distribution in Africa extends Ripple’s cross-border solution while addressing growing demand from institutional clients.
The stablecoin was also recently integrated into Ripple Payments, enabling institutions across Africa and worldwide to access a wider range of digital dollar options for settlements and treasury operations.
Strategic Partnerships in Africa
The expansion relies on partnerships with leading African fintech and exchange providers. Chipper Cash, one of the continent’s most recognized fintechs, will support cross-border payments for businesses and institutions using RLUSD. Its co-founder and CEO, Ham Serunjogi, said the company sought to accelerate stablecoin access for clients. “RLUSD is uniquely positioned to drive institutional use of blockchain technology across Africa and broader global markets, including through cross-border payments,” Serunjogi noted.
South Africa’s VALR, the continent’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has also integrated RLUSD into its platform. RLUSD co-founder and CEO, Farzam Ehsani, highlighted that being listed on VALR is part of its plan to offer compliant and trusted stablecoin options. He explained that the addition of RLUSD indicates our more general approach to facilitating trusted stablecoin solutions that can meet the emerging needs of our institutional and retail clients. Also, Yellow Card, an infrastructure-based pan-African exchange network, will facilitate payments and treasury solutions based on RLUSD.
Related: Ripple, SBI to Launch RLUSD Stablecoin in Japan by 2026
Real-World Applications and Market Potential
In addition to remittances, Ripple is already experimenting with other uses of its stablecoin. Mercy Corps Ventures has also conducted pilots of climate risk insurance with RLUSD in Kenya. These programs are drought and rainfall insurance that pays out automatically via smart contracts based on satellite-based weather information.
The entry of RLUSD into Africa also comes as residents in many countries rely on digital dollars like USDT for savings and transfers. Ripple’s regulated offering now introduces an institutional-grade option, designed to support both businesses and governments seeking access to reliable dollar-backed assets.
The Africa expansion of Ripple will be a strategic move in the region, as well as an indicator of the extent to which compliant stablecoins are defining new financial rails. Through institutional alliances, regulatory transparency, and practical pilots, Ripple makes RLUSD a cornerstone asset to change the way payments, treasury operations, and financial inclusion work on the continent.
