Stablecoins continue to gain traction across Africa, and major corporate partnerships are driving this acceleration. On 15 November 2025, VALR — one of Africa’s largest crypto exchanges — announced a strategic partnership with Mukuru, a cross-border remittance and financial services giant serving more than 17 million users.
The collaboration introduces a USD-backed stablecoin wallet offering across multiple African markets, giving users a simple way to save, hold, and transfer digital dollars.
USDC Savings for Millions of African Users
The partnership focuses on enabling USDC-denominated savings accounts, a product category rapidly gaining relevance in Africa’s volatile FX climate.
Key benefits include:
- Inflation-resistant savings through dollar-backed stablecoins
- Fast, low-cost remittances using blockchain rails
- Access to digital dollars without needing a bank dollar account
- Improved on- and off-ramp liquidity through regulated exchanges
This is particularly significant for markets where local currencies have experienced double-digit devaluation in 2024 and 2025.
Regulation Strengthens the Sector
South Africa remains one of the continent’s most advanced crypto regulatory environments. With more than 200 licensed crypto asset service providers, it has become the natural base for institutional-grade services like the VALR–Mukuru stablecoin partnership.
The move aligns with broader trends:
- Banks integrating crypto (e.g., Discovery Bank’s integration of Luno)
- Governments are drafting clearer stablecoin guidelines
- Fintechs using stablecoins for remittance optimisation
Stablecoins are shifting from niche trading assets into mainstream financial tools.
See more related: Africa Could Lead with Local-Currency Stablecoins Amid Regulatory Shifts
Why Stablecoin Wallets Are Winning in Africa
Three core factors are pushing adoption:
1. Currency Volatility
Consumers want stability in economies battling inflation and devaluation.
2. Cross-Border Payments
Millions of Africans depend on remittances; stablecoins cut costs and delays.
3. Financial Inclusion
Digital wallets make USD savings accessible to the unbanked and underbanked.
The VALR–Mukuru partnership is positioned to unlock these benefits at scale.
A New Era of Digital Dollar Access
With VALR providing the exchange infrastructure and Mukuru offering distribution through its extensive agent networks, this partnership could become one of the largest stablecoin rollouts in Africa to date.
It is also a strong signal that Africa’s fintech and crypto sectors are converging. As demand for stablecoin access grows, more institutions — from banks to telco wallets — are expected to integrate digital dollar features.
Africa’s crypto economy is maturing rapidly, and strategic partnerships like these are setting the foundation for mass adoption.
