African Fintech Slashes Cross-Border Payment Time with USDC

Moving money across Africa just got dramatically faster and cheaper, thanks to a partnership bringing blockchain technology to one of the continent's largest payment networks.

Onafriq, a fintech serving 40 African countries, announced Tuesday it will use stablecoins like USDC to manage funds and pay partners abroad. The Nairobi-based company handles cross-border transfers for banks, mobile money operators, and merchants across the continent.

The change tackles a problem that costs Africans billions annually. Traditional bank transfers across borders can take several days and pass through multiple intermediary banks, each adding fees and delays. With stablecoins, Onafriq can move the same funds in near-real-time with a single, transparent fee.

Onafriq partnered with Conduit, a cross-border payments firm that uses dollar-pegged digital tokens as the backbone for international transfers. The companies will start by using USDC to fund accounts, rebalance treasury holdings, and speed up payouts in markets with limited foreign exchange access.

The timing matters. Many African countries face restricted access to US dollars and few connections to global correspondent banking networks. Stablecoins offer a workaround, letting payment firms move value across borders without relying on the traditional SWIFT network.

"Conduit's infrastructure will help us streamline our global treasury management through stablecoins and drive faster payouts for our customers," said Luke Khohere, Onafriq's Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer. The partnership adds blockchain capabilities to a network Onafriq has built since 2010, connecting local payment systems that previously struggled to communicate.

The Ripple Effect

The shift extends beyond one company. Demand for stablecoin payment infrastructure in Africa jumped 80% between Q3 and Q4 of 2025, according to Conduit, signaling broader adoption across the continent.

Payment firms are testing these digital tokens primarily as backend tools rather than consumer products. The approach lets companies modernize infrastructure while customers continue using familiar local currencies and payment methods.

For millions of Africans sending money home, paying suppliers, or running cross-border businesses, the impact could be profound. Faster settlement times mean entrepreneurs can manage cash flow more effectively. Lower fees mean more money reaches intended recipients instead of disappearing into banking charges.

Traditional correspondent banking wasn't designed for Africa's payment landscape. Stablecoins offer African fintechs a chance to leapfrog outdated infrastructure the same way mobile phones bypassed landlines across the continent.

Cross-border payments are finally catching up to the speed of modern life.