$RLUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin launched in late 2024, was built with compliance and institutional trust at its core. It is issued by a New York limited purpose trust company under the oversight of the NYDFS. Since its rollout, the $RLUSD has quickly expanded, surpassing $700 million in market capitalization, a sign of strong global demand for a regulatory-first digital dollar.
Ripple’s SVP of Stablecoins, Jack McDonald, noted that $RLUSD is already supporting diverse institutional applications such as payments, collateral management, and tokenization.
“Our customers and institutional partners worldwide are increasingly asking for RLUSD. Bringing it to Africa through local partners allows us to expand access while strengthening cross-border payment solutions.”
Jack McDonald
RLUSD Gains Support from Leading African Fintech Firms
The initiative is closely tied to Ripple Payments, the company’s global remittance network, which now features $RLUSD within its stablecoin offering for international money transfers.
In Africa, the move is expected to boost efficiency in cross-border settlements. Chipper Cash CEO Ham Serunjogi noted that the integration extends the firm’s ongoing collaboration with Ripple, saying RLUSD is “uniquely positioned to accelerate institutional blockchain adoption across Africa and beyond.”
VALR, the region’s largest crypto exchange, shared a similar view. CEO Farzam Ehsani praised RLUSD’s compliance and reliability, describing it as a valuable addition for both institutions and retail customers in need of a trusted digital dollar.
Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice also emphasized that $RLUSD strengthens the company’s mission to deliver secure, regulated payment infrastructure, particularly for cross-border treasury operations in emerging markets.
Through these partnerships, Ripple is positioning $RLUSD as a key asset driving Africa’s expanding digital economy.