Visa & Yellow Card Push Digital Dollar Use Across Africa
Fhumulani Lukoto
- 2 min read
Key Takeaways
Strategic Stablecoin Expansion
Visa is partnering with Yellow Card, Africa’s first licensed stablecoin payments company, to promote US dollar-pegged stablecoins (like USDC) across the continent, starting with pilot programs in 2025.
Cheaper, Faster Cross-Border Transfers
The initiative aims to reduce the high cost and delay of traditional remittances by using stablecoins for near-instant, low-fee transfers. This is especially beneficial in countries facing dollar shortages and currency volatility.
Boost for Financial Inclusion
By leveraging stablecoins and Visa’s payment network, the partnership seeks to improve access to digital financial services in underbanked regions, supporting SMEs and individuals with limited banking options.
As digital innovation reshapes global finance, Visa has partnered with Yellow Card — Africa’s first licenced stablecoin payments orchestrator — in a strategic push to expand “digital dollar” usage across the continent.
Overview
According to a Bloomberg report, the two companies signed an agreement to promote stablecoin use for cross-border payments in emerging markets where Yellow Card operates. Yellow Card will launch stablecoin transactions with Visa in at least one African country this year, with additional rollouts in 2026.
This collaboration seeks to harness US‑pegged stablecoins like USDC and USDT to streamline cross‑border transfers, improve liquidity management, reduce costs, and strengthen treasury operations in markets with limited access to US dollars.
Co-founder and CEO of Yellow Card, Chris Maurice, emphasised that the collaboration focuses on enhancing treasury operations and improving liquidity management while enabling more cost-effective money transfers. Maurice said,
“All the major payment companies are exploring ways to get into space.”
A Strategic Coalition for Digital Payments
Visa — a global leader in digital payments and a pioneer in blockchain-based settlement — is extending its stablecoin infrastructure across the Central, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region. This expansion isn’t theoretical: Visa has already processed over US $225 million in stablecoin volumes, primarily USDC.
Through its partnership with Yellow Card, Visa will pilot stablecoin transfers in at least one African market later this year, with further rollouts planned for 2026. Yellow Card, founded in 2016 and operational in 20 countries, has already processed more than US $6 billion in transactions — underpinning its role as the region’s first licenced stablecoin payments provider.
Benefits: Cheaper, Faster, More Accessible
Lower Cost & Faster Cross‑Border Transfers
Stablecoin transfers across borders bypass costly correspondent banking systems, making remittances faster, cheaper, and potentially near-instant. Visa and Yellow Card aim to deliver this promise directly to retail users, SMEs, and financial institutions.
Improved Treasury & Liquidity Management
Adopting stablecoins for treasury operations helps businesses hedge against currency volatility and manage liquidity without depending on scarce US dollars. This is particularly impactful in countries facing dollar shortages and weakening local currencies.
Enhanced Financial Inclusion
Stablecoins offer a gateway to digital finance for underbanked populations, bridging the gap where traditional banking fails to provide coverage. Visa’s global reach and stablecoin rails could significantly boost access to financial services.
Driving Stablecoin Adoption Across Africa
Growing Regional Momentum
Visa and Yellow Card aren’t flying solo. Similar pilots are underway: for example, Circle and Onafriq partnered in April to pilot USDC settlements across 40 countries. Chainalysis reports that stablecoins now account for about 43% of crypto volume in Sub‑Saharan Africa, signalling fast‑rising retail adoption amid dollar scarcity.
Evolving Regulatory Landscape
Governments across Africa — including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa — are advancing Virtual Asset regulations. Kenya’s proposed Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill is notably progressive in recognising stablecoins’ varied use cases. Mauritius (2021) and Botswana (2022) lead in crypto regulation, with other nations following suit.
Looking Ahead: Africa’s Digital-Currency Horizon
This Visa–Yellow Card initiative marks a key moment in Africa’s digital transformation. The partnership creates a blueprint for modern, low‑cost, cross-border financial ecosystems by combining Visa’s infrastructure with Yellow Card’s stablecoin expertise.
Over the next 18 months, we can expect rollout in several African countries, broadening financial inclusion, reducing transfer costs, and encouraging digital innovation. The initiative also complements broader regional efforts—such as PAPSS for local-currency settlement—suggesting a diversified future where dollar-pegged and local currencies coexist in robust payment infrastructures.
Visa and Yellow Card’s alliance is more than a fintech experiment — it’s a financial strategy addressing Africa’s dollar shortage and fragmented banking system. With pilot stablecoin payments scheduled for launch this year and expansion into multiple markets on the horizon, this collaboration signals a pivotal shift toward accessible, efficient, and inclusive financial services in Africa’s emerging economies.
Categories:
Fhumulani Lukoto
Cryptocurrency Journalist
Fhumulani Lukoto holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism enabling her to become the writer she is today. Her passion for cryptocurrency and bitcoin started in 2021 when she began producing content in the space. A naturally inquisitive person, she dove head first into all things crypto to gain the huge wealth of knowledge she has today. Based out of Gauteng, South Africa, Fhumulani is a core member of the content team at Coin Insider.