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Ripple Launches RLUSD Stablecoin in Africa Through Three Major Partnerships

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TLDR

  • Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is expanding across Africa through partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card
  • RLUSD has grown to over $700 million market cap since launching in late 2024
  • The USD-backed stablecoin is designed for regulatory compliance and institutional trust
  • It’s already powering institutional use cases including payments, collateral management, and tokenization
  • Pilot programs in Kenya are using RLUSD for drought insurance and rain protection for farmers

Ripple has launched a major expansion of its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin into African markets through partnerships with three key financial technology companies: Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. This move marks an important step in the company’s global stablecoin strategy.

RLUSD is a USD-backed stablecoin launched in late 2024. It is designed with compliance and institutional trust at its core. The stablecoin is issued by a New York limited purpose trust company and operates under the supervision of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

Since its debut, RLUSD has seen rapid growth. Its market capitalization has reached more than $700 million, showing strong demand for a regulatory-focused digital dollar across global markets.

Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, highlighted that RLUSD is already being used for various institutional purposes. These include payments, collateral management, and tokenization.

African Expansion Through Local Partners

The expansion into Africa comes in response to increasing requests from customers and institutional partners worldwide. By working with local partners, Ripple aims to increase access to RLUSD while enhancing cross-border payment solutions in the region.

This initiative aligns with Ripple Payments, the company’s global remittance network. RLUSD is now part of Ripple’s stablecoin suite for international transfers, making it easier for institutions to move money across borders.

For African partners, the integration promises greater efficiency in cross-border settlements. Chipper Cash, led by CEO Ham Serunjogi, has been working with Ripple previously and sees RLUSD as a way to accelerate institutional blockchain adoption across Africa.

VALR, described as the continent’s largest crypto exchange, also expressed support for the partnership. CEO Farzam Ehsani emphasized RLUSD’s reliability and compliance features, calling it a strategic addition for both institutional and retail clients looking for a trusted digital dollar.

Yellow Card, the third partner in this expansion, focuses on providing secure and compliant payment infrastructure. CEO Chris Maurice stated that RLUSD fits with the company’s mission, especially for cross-border treasury management in emerging markets.

Real-World Applications Taking Shape

Beyond theoretical use cases, RLUSD is already being tested in practical applications. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures, a nonprofit venture fund, is using the stablecoin for two pilot projects.

The first project offers drought insurance to farmers using RLUSD. The second provides rain risk protection. Both projects use smart contracts that automatically release relief funds based on satellite data.

These pilot programs show how stablecoins can provide practical solutions to real-world problems. Farmers can receive insurance payouts quickly and transparently when environmental conditions trigger the smart contracts.

The multi-business use cases for RLUSD extend to liquidity management, treasury management, and collateralizing tokenized real-world assets. By bridging the crypto world with traditional finance, RLUSD aims to boost institutional usability for cross-border money flows.

Ripple’s expansion into Africa positions RLUSD as a key asset in the continent’s growing digital economy. With these three partnerships, the company is taking a strategic approach to increase adoption of its regulatory-compliant stablecoin.

The move comes at a time when many African countries are exploring digital finance solutions to overcome traditional banking limitations. Stablecoins like RLUSD may offer a way to provide stable, regulated access to the dollar for businesses and consumers across the continent.

As of September 2025, RLUSD’s presence in Africa through these partnerships represents the next chapter in Ripple’s stablecoin strategy, with the potential to unlock new possibilities for cross-border transactions in the region.

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Source: https://blockonomi.com/ripple-launches-rlusd-stablecoin-in-africa-through-three-major-partnerships/