Yellow Card rises as Africa’s stablecoin powerhouse

From launching its first product in Nigeria in 2019 to winning the Grand Prix in the Payments category at Money20/20 USA, Yellow Card is cementing its status as Africa’s leading stablecoin infrastructure provider and a rising global force in digital payments.

At the Money20/20 USA conference held in Las Vegas, Yellow Card stood out among some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan Payments, Mastercard, Zerohash, and Mynt, to claim the top award for its innovation and impact on global payments.

The win marked a defining moment not just for the company, but for Africa’s expanding role in shaping the future of financial technology.

In his reaction, Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card, said, “We are incredibly honoured to receive this recognition from Money20/20. This is more than a milestone; it solidifies our place as a key player in the industry and signals the growing global recognition of our mission. None of this would have been possible without our incredible team, partners, investors, and customers. This moment validates what we’ve achieved together and serves as a springboard for what comes next.”

The win crowns a breakthrough year for the company, marked by strategic partnerships with global payment leader Visa, and a major expansion into new markets including, Brazil, India, Mexico, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Yellow Card has also deepened its footprint across Africa, where it operates in 20 countries and continues to serve as a key bridge for financial inclusion and cross-border digital payments.

The company’s B2B infrastructure has been the core engine of its growth, enabling banks, fintechs, and enterprises to move value seamlessly across borders using stablecoins. The company’s technology powers everything from fiat settlement rails and custody wallet services to custom local stablecoin issuance, giving institutions flexible tools to manage global transactions with speed and efficiency.

“We are only scratching the surface of what’s possible. We haven’t even begun to see how far this technology can go, the efficiencies, the connections, and the new markets it can unlock. If anything, this moment is the beginning of something much larger. And we’re only just getting started,” said Justin Poiroux, CTO and co-founder of Yellow Card.

Founded in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has grown into one of the largest licensed stablecoin-based payments provider operating in 34 countries, with transaction volumes nearing $6 billion, 99 percent of which are attributable to stablecoins. Its rise from an African fintech startup to a global payments innovator has mirrored the growing acceptance of digital currencies as a trusted means of value transfer, particularly in emerging markets where traditional banking remains fragmented.

The Money20/20 Grand Prix Award is among the most coveted recognitions in the global payments industry. Yellow Card’s victory over long-established global players such as JPMorgan Payments and Mastercard not only highlights its technological edge but also signals a shift in the competitive landscape, where emerging market innovation is now shaping the future of finance.

As the company looks ahead, its leadership believes this recognition will propel further collaboration and adoption across borders.

“This win is not the finish line. It is a call to go further, to expand what is possible for payments, for stablecoins, and for the millions of people and businesses we aim to serve,” Maurice said.