Ripple has moved its US dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD or RLUSD, into Africa. The company said this on Thursday in a blog post that it teamed up with Chipper Cash, VALR and Yellow Card to offer regulated access to the token.
The push targets institutional users across the continent, and Ripple said the aim is to meet growing demand for reliable ways to move money across borders. The rollout uses partnerships and existing exchange listings to make RLUSD available to businesses and payment platforms.
New partnerships
Ripple linked up with three fintech firms to expand access, and Chipper Cash is now set to support RLUSD for its customers. VALR and Yellow Card will also offer onramps and custody services.
These partners will let banks, payment firms and larger companies hold and move RLUSD under regulated frameworks. Ripple said the move opens a compliant path for enterprises that want a stable digital dollar.
About RLUSD
RLUSD launched in late 2024, and the token is issued by a New York trust company overseen by the state Department of Financial Services.
Ripple says the stablecoin has topped $700,000,000 in supply on both Ethereum and the XRP Ledger. The design aims at enterprise tasks, and use cases include remittances, treasury functions and trading tokenised assets.
Ripple has listed RLUSD on exchanges such as Bitstamp, Kraken and Gemini to make it easier for firms to access.
Why this matters?
Stablecoins are already used across Africa for savings and cross-border transfers. Many people and businesses use tokens like USDT to move money where banks are weak or slow.
RLUSD offers a regulated alternative for larger players, and that could matter to firms that need compliance built into their payments stack. For companies that move large sums, a regulated stablecoin can lower costs and cut settlement times.
Also Read: Ripple and SBI Group Plans To Bring RLUSD Stablecoin To Japan
Real-world pilots
Ripple and partners are testing RLUSD in practical projects. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures is running pilots that use RLUSD in climate risk insurance.
In one plan, funds sit in escrow and are released automatically when satellite data finds drought. In another, payouts go out if rainfall drops below set levels, and these pilots show how stablecoins can link digital ledgers to real-world outcomes. They also test whether automatic payments can help at scale.
Broader interest and funding
The RLUSD launch comes as many firms eye stablecoins for faster payments. Western Union has signalled interest in stablecoin projects as part of a digital update.
Visa has entered a partnership with Yellow Card to build a payments infrastructure in Africa. Yellow Card itself closed a $33,000,000 Series C round led by Blockchain Capital. Those moves underline rising investment in crypto payment tools on the continent.
What leaders say?
Ripple and its partners argue RLUSD can bring more institutions into blockchain use. Chipper Cash’s CEO said the token can help firms adopt blockchain safely.
VALR’s CEO noted a clear appetite for high-quality digital assets among businesses. Yellow Card’s leadership pointed to the need for dependable stablecoins in treasury and cross-border work.
Ripple’s push is meant to give enterprises a compliance-first stablecoin choice in Africa. By working with local fintech firms and listing on major exchanges, the company wants to make RLUSD a practical option for payments, treasury and new token-based products.
Also Read: Ripple & Circle Back Singapore Based Tazapay In Series B Funding To Boost Cross Border Payments