Visa has partnered with Yellow Card, a leading African crypto exchange, to bring stablecoin-based payments to more countries across the continent—signaling a major step toward making cross-border transactions faster and more accessible for millions.

Yellow Card, which has processed over $6 billion in transactions across 20+ African countries, is known for enabling users to transact using stablecoins like USDT and USDC. Through this new partnership, both companies are piloting an integration with Visa Direct, the payment giant’s real-time transfer platform.

The goal is to let users send and receive stablecoins seamlessly—whether they’re individuals sending money home, freelancers getting paid, or small businesses looking for reliable ways to transact across borders. This is especially critical in African countries where foreign exchange shortages and high remittance fees are everyday challenges.

Visa’s announcement follows Stripe’s recent expansion of stablecoin payments to over 100 countries, including several in Africa. The timing reflects a broader shift: stablecoins are no longer just crypto buzzwords—they’re becoming real tools for navigating Africa’s broken financial systems.

Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to traditional fiat like the US dollar, offering the speed and flexibility of crypto without the volatility. This makes them attractive in places where local currencies are unstable and bank access is limited.

“Stablecoins are starting to bridge the gap between informal and formal finance in Africa,” said a regional fintech analyst. “They offer people a way to store value, send money, and do business—without needing a traditional bank account.”

The momentum is also being supported by clearer global regulations. Countries like Brazil, Japan, and the UK are setting legal guardrails for stablecoin usage, and the U.S. recently passed laws to oversee their issuance. With the legal fog lifting, companies like Visa now have the green light to scale their solutions globally—and Africa is high on that list.

As traditional finance players step into the stablecoin space, partnerships like this one could reshape how money moves across African borders—cheaper, faster, and with fewer gatekeepers.