The largest African licensed stablecoin platform — Yellow Card

3 min readJan 14, 2025

2025 Macro Trend Outlook

2025 is positioned to be a transformative year for stablecoin adoption, driven by anticipated U.S. regulatory clarity and shifting market sentiment. Corporate treasuries, particularly multinational corporations and businesses in emerging markets, are expected to increasingly embrace stablecoins for their operational efficiency in payments. Yellow Card is strategically positioned to capitalize on this trend, especially for companies managing supply chains or B2B operations across African markets.

Overview

Yellow Card stands as Africa’s largest licensed stablecoin on/off-ramp platform, revolutionizing financial services across the continent. Founded in 2016 by Chris Maurice and Justin Poiroux, the company has established itself as a crucial bridge between traditional financial systems and digital assets, particularly in regions challenged by currency instability and limited banking infrastructure.

Yellow Card founders featured in Forbes 30 Under 30

Key Highlights

Market Presence: Operating in 20 African countries
Total Funding: $88 million (including $33 million Series C in 2024)
Business Clients: Supporting approximately 30,000 companies
Key Investors: Blockchain Capital, Polychain Capital, Winklevoss Capital, and Block
Strategic Partnerships: Coinbase, Block, Onramper

Core Services

Yellow Card’s mobile interface showcasing their simple coin trading platform

1. Stablecoin Trading

Buy and sell USDT, USDC, and PYUSD using local currencies
Competitive rates and multiple payment methods
User-friendly mobile interface

2. Cross-Border Transfers

Lower fees compared to traditional remittance services
Instant settlements
Wide coverage across African nations

3. Business Solutions

Payments API for seamless integration
Yellow Card Widget for business transactions
Treasury management solutions

Strategic Vision

Yellow Card is positioning itself to capitalize on the anticipated surge in stablecoin adoption, particularly as 2025 approaches. The company’s infrastructure and regulatory compliance make it an attractive partner for:

Multinational corporations managing African operations
Businesses seeking efficient cross-border payment solutions
Companies looking to hedge against local currency volatility

Expansion Plans

The company is actively pursuing growth through:

Market expansion into Ethiopia, Egypt, and Morocco
Enhanced integration with global financial systems
Strengthened partnerships with major financial institutions

Investment Potential

Yellow Card’s strategic position makes it an attractive acquisition target for:

Global cryptocurrency exchanges seeking African market entry
Traditional financial institutions expanding into digital assets
Payment giants looking to enhance their emerging market presence

Their established infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and market leadership in Africa’s cryptocurrency space make them particularly valuable in the evolving financial landscape.

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