Ripple Integrates $700M RLUSD Stablecoin in Africa, Expanding Its Ecosystem

Ripple announced plans to introduce its U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin, RLUSD, to new markets in Africa. This builds on its strategy to penetrate global markets.

Ripple Brings $700M RLUSD to Africa

In a recent press release, Ripple confirmed that RLUSD will be made available to financial institutions and enterprises across Africa. The stablecoin would be integrated through collaborations with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. 

Since its late 2024 launch, the stablecoin has amassed a market valuation of more than $700 million. Due to its enterprise-grade financial utility and compliance-first design, the coin has gained popularity.

Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, said the new rollout builds on growing demand for the stablecoin in global financial markets. 

“We’re seeing strong adoption for RLUSD in payments, tokenization, and collateralized trading,” he explained. “Expanding into Africa with local partners helps us meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing regions for digital payments,” he noted.

Chipper Cash, one of Africa’s most widely used fintech platforms, also highlighted the benefits of making the stablecoin accessible to its clients. CEO Ham Serunjogi described the stablecoin as a tool to accelerate cost-efficient cross-border transactions across the continent.

Furthermore, VALR, Africa’s largest crypto exchange, confirmed its support, with co-founder Farzam Ehsani stressing the importance of listing compliant digital assets. Yellow Card also added that its customers increasingly seek stable solutions for treasury and international payments.

 “Our customers demand access to stable digital assets that are useful for secure cross-border payments and treasury management. Offering a regulatory-compliant stablecoin like RLUSD is a natural step in our mission to deliver trusted, enterprise-grade solutions,” Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card, shared.

Ripple is establishing its stablecoin as a link between regional markets and international liquidity through these partnerships.

Global Expansion of RLUSD Continues

The African expansion comes on the heels of the company’s broader international rollout. Ripple recently introduced RLUSD in Japan through SBI Holdings. They also minted an additional $24 million, increasing their supply.

In July, Ripple launched RLUSD in Europe via Luxembourg under the EU’s MiCA framework. These actions collectively demonstrate the company’s long-term objective of strengthening the coin on a global scale.

Additionally, the coin is being used in pilot programs to address climate-related risks. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures launched projects using the coin as a form of drought and rainfall insurance. The payouts for this are triggered automatically by smart contracts based on satellite data. 

The company also highlighted the stablecoin’s compatibility with DeFi. RLUSD was recently integrated on Aave’s Horizon, allowing the coin to be used as collateral in open finance markets. Institutions and DeFi users now have more options for liquidity.

In Africa, where cross-border transactions are still costly and docile, Ripple’s launch presents a compelling alternative.