AfCFTA’s digital trade pilot launches; what does it mean for IOTA price?

• IOTA Foundation and African trade project partner to boost digital trade architecture.
• Per an announcement, the integration eyes blockchain technology adoption in Africa’s trade landscape.
• The development could help bolster IOTA’s price performance.

IOTA has secured a significant lift on the adoption front following the African Continental Free Trade Area’s launch of the Africa Digital Trade Access and Public Infrastructure Initiative.

With the program now underway, IOTA co-founder Dominik Schiener said the development could mark the start of a major turning point for the decentralized network.

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the IOTA price traded at $0.12, a slight increase in the past 24 hours as the broader market battles continued downward pressure.

IOTA to power Africa’s digital trade architecture

This week, the AfCFTA launched the ADAPT program, which it says is set to transform Africa’s trade landscape.

Notably, the project seeks to establish a unified digital backbone for identity, data, and financial transactions.

IOTA’s blockchain platform will power this pilot.

According to AfCFTA, IOTA will play a pivotal role, with the ADAPT program set to tap into decentralized ledger technology to provide the foundation for seamless, interoperable cross-border payments and digitised trade documents.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene said:

“This is Africa’s blueprint for the digitisation and modernisation of trade: a system that replaces fragmentation with integration, friction with trust, and inefficiency with scale.”

Initially, the target is programs across Kenya and Ghana, before expanding to the whole continent by 2035.

This ambitious rollout is expected to integrate stablecoin-based settlements and tokenized assets, all powered by IOTA.

A new era of African trade is unfolding.
“With ADAPT, we’re demonstrating how decentralized infrastructure can serve governments and businesses alike, creating a foundation for cross-border collaboration that’s efficient, secure, and future-proof” @DomSchiener pic.twitter.com/BGiePLLZEe

— IOTA (@iota) November 20, 2025

According to IOTA Foundation chair Dominik Schiener, the partnership is a big move for real-world assets for IOTA.

Commenting via X, Schiener noted:

“Being selected as a partner for ADAPT means that we are bringing our original vision to reality. It is an incredible opportunity to be part of creating the digital infrastructure that will connect an entire continent.”

Schiener added that the ADAPT initiative validates IOTA’s long-term strategy, with upcoming use cases including cross-border payments, tokenized critical minerals, and digital identities.

The comments highlight IOTA’s potential, with growth allowing for traction amid global adoption.

IOTA price outlook

The IOTA token has been in a downtrend since May 2021, when the token fell from highs of $2.10.

However, despite recent price fluctuations, the altcoin remains above the all-time lows below $0.10 reached in March 2020.

Over the past month, IOTA has experienced a 24% decline, and it’s down 14% in the past week.

While short-term price movements remain uncertain, the long-term implications for IOTA’s adoption and valuation are largely positive.