Ripple Brings its Dollar Backed Stablecoin RLUSD to Africa

Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), is now available to institutions in Africa through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. The move gives businesses across the continent access to a regulated digital dollar designed for cross-border payments, liquidity, and on-chain settlement.

RLUSD was first launched in late 2024 and is issued by a New York trust company under the oversight of the state’s Department of Financial Services. It has grown to more than $709 million in supply across Ethereum (ETH) and the XRP Ledger (XRP). Ripple’s expansion into Africa marks a strategic effort to provide a compliance-focused alternative to other stablecoins widely used in the region.

Why RLUSD Matters in Africa

Stablecoins have become an important tool for payments in Africa. Many individuals and businesses already use digital dollars such as USDT and USDC for remittances, savings, and trade settlement. However, most of these tokens are not issued under the same regulatory frameworks that institutions require.

RLUSD is designed to fill that gap by combining blockchain efficiency with institutional-grade compliance. By working with Africa’s largest crypto platforms, Ripple is making RLUSD available for enterprise use cases such as:

• Cross-border settlement with instant finality
• Liquidity management for remittance providers and businesses
• Treasury operations requiring stable, dollar-backed assets
• Collateral for tokenized real-world assets including commodities and securities

Key Partnerships Powering the Rollout

Ripple is working with three major African partners to distribute RLUSD:

• Chipper Cash: The payments app with millions of users across Africa will use RLUSD to enhance its cross-border transfer services. CEO Ham Serunjogi said the stablecoin is “uniquely positioned to drive institutional use of blockchain technology across Africa.”
• VALR: As Africa’s largest crypto exchange, VALR is listing RLUSD for its institutional and retail clients. CEO Farzam Ehsani emphasized that the listing supports their strategy of offering “trusted stablecoin options that serve evolving needs.”
• Yellow Card: This pan-African exchange and payments platform will integrate RLUSD into its infrastructure for treasury management and secure cross-border payments. CEO Chris Maurice described the move as a step toward delivering “trusted, enterprise-grade solutions.”

Together, these partnerships give Ripple a distribution network that spans retail exchanges, payment processors, and institutional finance.

RLUSD Beyond Payments

Ripple is also exploring real-world use cases for RLUSD in Africa. Mercy Corps Ventures is testing the stablecoin in climate risk insurance programs in Kenya:

• Drought insurance: RLUSD funds are held in escrow and automatically released if satellite data confirms drought conditions.
• Rainfall insurance: Another pilot uses RLUSD for payouts triggered by extreme rainfall events.

These initiatives show how blockchain and stablecoins can be used to build financial resilience in vulnerable communities. By using smart contracts, payouts happen quickly and without the need for intermediaries.

Compliance and Global Reach

One of RLUSD’s distinguishing features is its regulatory structure. The stablecoin is issued by a limited purpose trust company regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This framework gives institutions confidence in its backing and governance.

Ripple has also enabled RLUSD in Ripple Payments, its cross-border settlement solution. This integration extends the stablecoin’s use beyond Africa, making it part of a global infrastructure for enterprise-grade stablecoins.

RLUSD is already supported on exchanges including Bitstamp, Kraken, Gemini, LMAX, Uphold, Mercado Bitcoin, and Bullish, ensuring liquidity across multiple regions.

Stablecoins and the African Market

Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for stablecoin adoption. Many businesses face challenges with volatile local currencies, high remittance costs, and limited access to reliable banking. Stablecoins provide a digital dollar alternative that can be moved across borders with lower fees and faster settlement times.

By targeting institutional adoption, Ripple is focusing on a segment that requires compliance and reliability to scale. This strategy places RLUSD alongside USDC as one of the few stablecoins designed to meet regulatory and enterprise standards.

Conclusion

Ripple’s rollout of RLUSD in Africa extends a regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin to institutions across the continent. Through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card, RLUSD will support cross-border payments, liquidity management, and tokenized asset trading. Its use in climate insurance pilots in Kenya highlights the broader role stablecoins can play in financial services.

With over $700 million already in circulation, RLUSD is established as a compliance-first option for enterprises seeking a stable, digital dollar. Ripple’s expansion shows how stablecoins are becoming a practical part of financial infrastructure in regions where access to reliable banking remains limited.

Resources:

1. Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD launch in Africa announcement: https://ripple.com/ripple-press/ripples-usd-backed-stablecoin-rlusd-arrives-in-Africa/

2. Ripple RLUSD data: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ripple-usd/

3. Across Africa, people are already turning to digital dollars like USDT to save money and send it across borders - report by Castle Island and Brevan Howard: https://castleisland.vc/writing/stablecoins-the-emerging-market-story/