Ripple has joined forces with African payments firm Chipper Cash to bolster crypto-enabled cross-border payments, the companies announced.
The partnership will see Chipper Cash integrate Ripple Payments to streamline transactions across multiple markets, according to a release.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, called the move a major step in the company’s regional expansion.
“Consumers and businesses across the continentof Africa are increasingly recognizing the potential of blockchain technology, and we are excited to bring our crypto-enabled payments solution to our partners in the region,” he said.
Blockchain adoption in Africa has been rising, particularly in remittances. A Chainalysis report found that stablecoins now account for nearly half of all transaction volume in Sub-Saharan Africa, showing the industry’s significant influence in the region.
Chipper Cash CEO Ham Serunjogi emphasized the broader implications of crypto-powered payments, citing benefits such as financial inclusion and greater access to global markets. He noted that integrating with the firm’s technology has allowed the company to offer faster and lower-cost payments to its customers.
This latest partnership builds on Ripple’s 2023 deal with Onafriq, which facilitated payments between 27 African nations and regions, including Australia, the UK, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, according to the press release.
The company continues to expand globally, recently securing a Dubai license to offer crypto-based payments in the UAE.
Ripple Expands as it Secures Legal Victory
The firm’s regulatory progress follows its recent legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a ruling CEO Brad Garlinghouse described as providing “a lot of certainty” for Ripple’s future operations.
The legal victory over the SEC has also fueled speculation that the regulator could soon approve a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States.
That speculation has seen bettors on the popular prediction marketplace Polymarket forecast an 86% chance of a spot XRP ETF being approved before the end of the year.
