Ripple is strengthening its presence in Africa by introducing its dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), to institutional users across the continent. This move is supported through new partnerships with fintech leaders Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card.
RLUSD’s Rapid Growth and Compliance Framework
Since launching in late 2024, RLUSD has quickly scaled, surpassing $700 million in circulation across Ethereum and the XRP Ledger. The stablecoin was designed with compliance in mind, issued by a New York trust company under state regulatory oversight. It caters to institutional needs such as remittances, treasury operations, on-chain settlements, and collateralization of tokenized real-world assets.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Expansion
Ripple’s African rollout is anchored by three key fintech collaborations:
- Chipper Cash will use RLUSD to power faster and more affordable cross-border remittances while supporting treasury operations.
- VALR, one of Africa’s largest crypto exchanges, sees RLUSD as a regulatory-compliant and reliable stablecoin for institutional trading and digital asset management.
- Yellow Card highlights its role in providing secure cross-border payments and delivering digital dollar infrastructure across the region.
Real-World Impact Beyond Finance
Ripple is also exploring social applications for RLUSD in Africa. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures is piloting climate risk initiatives using RLUSD for drought and rainfall insurance programs. With funds held in escrow and released automatically via smart contracts triggered by satellite-verified weather events, the solution enables rapid and transparent relief during climate shocks.
The African launch is part of Ripple’s larger global expansion strategy. RLUSD is already available through a growing list of international partners and exchanges, including Bitstamp, Kraken, Gemini, Independent Reserve, CoinMENA, and Mercado Bitcoin. Ripple’s focus remains on meeting institutional demand for compliant, enterprise-grade digital assets.
