Ripple’s RLUSD Heads to Africa via Trident’s $500M XRP Push

• Trident aims to secure stablecoin licenses to deploy RLUSD across several African nations by mid-2026.
• The firm plans to raise $500M for a corporate XRP treasury, aligning closely with Ripple’s ecosystem.
• Ripple’s earlier CBDC pilots and stablecoin projects in emerging markets give context to Trident’s RLUSD initiative.

NASDAQ-listed Trident Digital Tech Holdings (TDTH) has announced plans to push for the adoption of Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, across multiple countries in Africa. 

To this end, the company will apply for regulatory approvals to operate the Ripple issued dollar-pegged stablecoin to boost digital payments and financial inclusion across Africa.

A $500 Million XRP Treasury to Back the Push

Backing this initiative, Trident plans to raise up to $500 million to create one of the largest corporate XRP treasuries on record, Trident plans to raise up to $500 million to establish one of the largest corporate XRP treasuries. It will leverage staking to integrate closely with the Ripple ecosystem and signal its commitment to decentralized finance. 

This isn’t Trident’s first foray into the continent. The company has already deployed a digital identity system called DRCPass in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, proving its ability to deliver Web3 infrastructure in emerging markets. The RLUSD initiative will build upon that foundation.

Regulatory Path and Pilot Rollouts Set the Stage for 2026

Trident has begun exploratory discussions with regulators, financial institutions, and local partners across African markets to clarify licensing avenues and infrastructure requirements. Based on these engagements, it plans phased pilot rollouts by mid‑2026, contingent on regulatory approval and market readiness. 

By offering a blockchain‑native dollar alternative, Trident hopes to alleviate local currency liquidity issues and speed cross‑border transactions.

Ripple’s Broader Push in Emerging Markets

Trident’s stablecoin expansion adds to Ripple’s growing activity in emerging markets. While RLUSD only launched in 2025, its early integration into cross-border payment strategies aligns with Ripple’s broader ambitions across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In prior years, Ripple partnered with several financial institutions and central banks to support CBDC development and enhance payment corridors in regions where traditional banking infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

Ripple previously collaborated with central banks in Bhutan and Palau to launch government-backed stablecoins pilot. 

If Trident succeeds, it would give Ripple a massive foothold for its RLUSD stablecoin in Africa, positioning it as a key digital dollar alternative in markets with volatile currencies. The move also expands Ripple’s role from just providing XRP liquidity to being a core infrastructure provider for a much broader digital financial ecosystem.