Ripple expands RLUSD to boost Africa cross-border trade

Ripple expands RLUSD with partners Chipper, VALR, Yellow

Ripple expands RLUSD: Stablecoin launches in Africa

Ripple has opened a new chapter in its stablecoin journey with the rollout of RLUSD, its dollar-backed token, in African markets. The launch is designed to give businesses and financial institutions faster, cheaper access to U.S. dollar liquidity — a service that has long been expensive and slow across the continent.

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Cross-border payments get a digital upgrade

Sending money across African borders has always been complicated. Bank transfers can take days, while remittance costs often rank among the highest in the world. By tying RLUSD to the U.S. dollar, Ripple hopes to cut out delays and make transactions feel as simple as sending a text.

The company says the token will also be available within its Ripple Payments network, meaning large enterprises and banks could use it to settle international flows instantly instead of waiting for correspondent banks.

African partners step in

Ripple isn’t entering the market alone. The expansion comes with support from Chipper Cash, Yellow Card, and VALR — three companies that already power much of Africa’s crypto and fintech activity.

• Chipper Cash operates a fast-growing payments app across several African countries.

• Yellow Card is one of the continent’s largest crypto exchanges, active in more than a dozen markets.

• Businesses requiring extensive dollar markets can benefit from VALR's exchange infrastructure and liquidity.

These participants work together to provide RLUSD with an existing distribution network, enabling it to reach customers directly rather than remaining in test mode.

From a moral standpoint to an outside organization

Stablecoins may serve as more than just trading instruments, as demonstrated by one early trial. Mercy Corps Ventures is testing RLUSD rewards linked to weather insurance in Kenya. Farmers get money right once if rainfall or satellite data indicates drought; there are no intermediaries or drawn-out claim procedures.

This may be a lifeline for an area experiencing the most severe climatic shocks. It also highlights how blockchain-backed dollars might solve problems that traditional aid channels can’t handle quickly.

Competing in a crowded stablecoin field

The dollar stablecoin market is already stacked with giants like USDT and USDC. Ripple’s pitch is different: regulation-first, enterprise-focused, and connected to its existing payments rails. Analysts see Africa as a smart entry point, given the continent’s hunger for reliable dollar access. If adoption holds, this stable coin could become a key liquidity layer for both trade and aid — not just in Africa, but globally.

What’s next for RLUSD in Africa

The big questions now shift to adoption and regulation. Will central banks support on-chain dollars? Can fintechs convince local businesses to switch from cash and bank wires to tokenized dollars?

For now, one thing is clear: Ripple expands RLUSD at a moment when Africa is searching for faster, fairer ways to move money. If its partners deliver, this could mark the start of a new era for digital payments on the continent.