Nedbank has formed a strategic partnership with Crypto.com to build blockchain-based payment and settlement rails across Africa, aiming to cut cross-border costs and expand access to USDC liquidity. The move targets faster settlement and cheaper remittances for businesses and individuals on the continent.
Nedbank has partnered with Crypto.com to build an Africa-wide blockchain payment network offering real-time ZAR and USDC settlement for retail and commercial banking clients.
At Davos, economist Vera Songwe said remittances and inflation hedging are driving stablecoin adoption across Africa, now outpacing aid as a lifeline. The trend could lower costs and speed transfers for households facing currency volatility.
Ripple’s Reece Merrick tweeted that the company is observing “tremendous traction” across Sub-Saharan Africa and Turkey, highlighting growing interest in its cross-border payment solutions. The remark signals potential momentum for XRP use in key remittance and liquidity corridors.
VALR and Mukuru have launched a USDC wallet that works directly inside WhatsApp, aiming to make digital dollars easier and more accessible for users across Africa. The integration targets everyday payments and remittances using the USD Coin stablecoin.