Onafriq, Circle Enable Remittances, Cross-border Payments with USDC

This is a product of collaboration between Africa’s largest payments gateway, Onafriq, and a leader in the stablecoin market and issuer of the popular USDC, Circle.

The partnership leverages stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure to boost Onafriq’s payment network, positioning it at the forefront of the digital payment’s revolution for real-world financial applications.

This collaboration is a major step toward a more inclusive and self-reliant pan-African financial system. It signals a new phase in the modernisation of African payment rails – one where blockchain technology is applied responsibly, in lockstep with regulators and financial institutions, to build a faster, more efficient, and economically empowering future for the continent.

“Our partnership with Circle is an important milestone, reinforcing Onafriq’s commitment to harnessing technology to remove complexity from cross-border payments.

“By integrating USDC, we aim to simplify financial transactions for institutions and individuals, reduce costs, and strengthen trust.

“This collaboration underscores our vision to democratise access to payments and drive financial inclusion across the globe. We’re not just envisioning the future of payments – we’re actively building it,” the chief executive of Onafriq, Mr Dare Okoudjou, said.

On her part, the Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Circle, Ms Miriam Kiwan, said, “The emerging markets that Onafriq serves hold tremendous potential for digital asset innovation, particularly in the adoption of stablecoins for cross-border payments.

“Our partnership with Onafriq aligns perfectly with Circle’s mission to promote financial inclusion and improve efficiency in areas where traditional banking has often been costly and inaccessible.

“Together, we aim to transform how money moves across borders, offering secure and transparent digital payment rails that enhance economic empowerment and connectivity.”

Currently, over 80 per cent of intra-African payments are routed through correspondent banks outside the continent and settled in foreign currencies such as the US dollar or Euro.

This results in a staggering $5 billion in transaction fees annually and undermines economic integration efforts.

Onafriq and Circle are working together to change this paradigm by piloting the use of USDC-powered settlement solutions into Onafriq’s network, which connects over 500 wallets and 200 million bank accounts in more than 40 African markets.