Ripple Launches RLUSD Stablecoin in Africa via New Partnerships
Ripple is expanding the reach of its enterprise-grade stablecoin, Ripple USD, to institutional clients in Africa, marking its latest move into global markets.
Summary
- Ripple teams up with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card to launch RLUSD in Africa.
- Since its introduction in 2024, RLUSD has achieved a market cap exceeding $700M.
- This stablecoin will streamline cross-border payments, treasury management, and trading activities.
The announcement was released on September 4, showcasing Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card as its primary partners in the region.
After its debut in late 2024, Ripple USD (RLUSD) rapidly surpassed a market capitalization of $700 million, driven by Ripple’s compliance-focused approach and its status as a limited-purpose trust company based in New York.
Increasing Adoption of RLUSD
RLUSD is currently being used for cross-border payments, tokenization, and as collateral for trading; it has been recently integrated into Ripple Payments, the company’s global settlement platform. Jack McDonald, Ripple’s SVP of Stablecoins, mentioned that institutional clients are significantly boosting the adoption rate.
“We’re seeing a robust interest in RLUSD from our clients and other key institutional players worldwide, and we’re excited to begin distribution in Africa with the support of our local partners.”
— Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoins at Ripple
The three African firms participating in Ripple’s launch view RLUSD as a dependable solution for cross-border payments, treasury management, and trading. Chipper Cash CEO Ham Serunjogi emphasized the potential for faster, more cost-effective remittances, while VALR’s Farzam Ehsani called the listing part of a strategy aimed at backing “compliant and high-quality digital assets.”
Chris Maurice from Yellow Card noted that RLUSD will meet customer needs for trustworthy dollar-backed infrastructure in emerging markets.
Financial Inclusion and Practical Applications of RLUSD
RLUSD has also shown promise in humanitarian projects. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures is piloting the stablecoin for rainfall and drought insurance. Funds are held in escrow and automatically disbursed by smart contracts linked to satellite weather data. These projects aim to provide farmers with quicker, more transparent assistance during climate-related emergencies.
This expansion into Africa follows Ripple’s agreement on August 22 with Japan’s SBI VC Trade to introduce RLUSD to institutions in Asia’s leading stablecoin market. With partnerships across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and now Africa, Ripple positions RLUSD as a global solution for regulated dollar exposure that connects financial institutions, decentralized finance protocols, and real-world applications.