The African fintech landscape is undergoing a transformative shift as Aptos Labs and Yellow Card join forces to launch instant, zero-fee stablecoin transfers across 20 African countries. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing financial inclusion, offering millions of users seamless access to fast, affordable, and reliable digital payments through USDT and USDC.
With sub-second transaction finality and gas-sponsored transfers on the Aptos network, this integration eliminates traditional barriers like high fees and slow settlement times—common pain points in conventional cross-border finance. The initiative empowers individuals, small businesses, and financial institutions alike to conduct everyday transactions with unprecedented efficiency.
Accelerating Stablecoin Adoption Across Africa
Africa has emerged as a global leader in stablecoin adoption, driven by real-world utility rather than speculative trends. According to Yellow Card’s research, over 54 million digital asset users currently reside across Sub-Saharan Africa. These users rely on stablecoins for practical applications including:
- Cross-border remittances
- Small business payroll management
- Treasury operations for SMEs
- Protection against local currency volatility
This ground-level demand underscores a growing need for scalable, low-cost financial infrastructure. Traditional banking systems often fall short due to inefficiencies, high costs, and limited accessibility—especially in rural or underserved regions.
👉 Discover how next-gen blockchain networks are reshaping financial access across emerging markets.
By leveraging stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and other dollar-pegged assets, users can preserve value and transact globally without relying on unstable national currencies or slow international wire systems.
Seamless, Scalable Infrastructure Built for Africa
The integration between Yellow Card and Aptos is engineered to meet Africa’s unique economic and technological demands. As a mobile-first continent with rapidly growing internet penetration, Africa requires blockchain solutions that are:
- Fast (sub-second finality)
- Affordable (zero gas fees during campaign)
- Scalable (over 11,000 TPS in production)
Aptos’ Layer 1 architecture delivers precisely this combination. Its parallel execution engine and account abstraction capabilities allow it to process thousands of transactions simultaneously—making it one of the few blockchains capable of supporting mass-market payment systems at scale.
For Yellow Card customers, this means they can now send and receive stablecoins instantly across borders without worrying about transaction costs or delays. Whether it's a Lagos-based entrepreneur paying suppliers in Nairobi or a family receiving support from relatives abroad, the experience is frictionless and cost-effective.
“We're excited to support Yellow Card in bringing millions of users seamless access to USDT and USDC across 20 countries,” said Alex Heuer, Head of Payments at Aptos Labs. “Africa is leading the way in stablecoin adoption for practical use cases, and our zero-fee, instant settlement capabilities are perfectly suited to meet this demand.”
Advancing Financial Inclusion Through Innovation
Financial exclusion remains a critical challenge across much of Africa, where nearly 350 million adults remain unbanked. However, mobile phone ownership far outpaces traditional bank account penetration, creating an opportunity for digital finance solutions to leapfrog legacy systems.
Yellow Card’s mission aligns directly with this reality. As the first licensed pan-African stablecoin infrastructure provider, it offers regulated access to dollar-pegged digital assets through multiple channels:
- Retail trading platform
- B2B payment APIs
- Embedded finance "widgets" for businesses
Now, powered by Aptos’ high-performance blockchain, these tools gain even greater utility. Instant settlement enables real-time reconciliation for enterprises, while zero fees make microtransactions viable—opening doors for gig workers, freelancers, and informal economy participants.
“As demand for stablecoins continues to grow across the continent, cost-effective and frictionless transactions are critical—and that’s exactly what this partnership delivers,” said Gillian Darko, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at Yellow Card. “By eliminating gas fees and enabling instant settlement on the robust, next-generation Layer 1 Aptos network, we’re empowering millions to access faster, more affordable USDT and other stablecoins.”
👉 See how developers are building inclusive financial tools on high-speed blockchains.
The Rise of Stablecoins as Global Payment Rail
Stablecoins are no longer just crypto trading instruments—they’re evolving into core components of the global financial infrastructure. In 2024 alone, global stablecoin transfer volume reached $27.6 trillion, surpassing the combined annual transaction volume of Visa and Mastercard.
This growth reflects a broader shift: stablecoins are becoming preferred rails for value transfer due to their speed, transparency, and programmability. And with major issuers like Tether (USDT), Circle (USDC), and others expanding their reach, interoperability with high-performance blockchains like Aptos becomes essential.
Aptos’ support for top-tier stablecoins positions it at the forefront of this evolution. Its developer-friendly ecosystem encourages innovation in DeFi, payments, and embedded finance—ensuring long-term sustainability beyond short-term campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which countries are included in this zero-fee transfer initiative?
A: The service is available to Yellow Card customers in 20 African countries. Specific country coverage may vary based on regulatory compliance and local availability.
Q: Are gas fees permanently waived on Aptos?
A: During this promotional campaign, all stablecoin transfers via Yellow Card on the Aptos network are gas-sponsored (i.e., zero fees). Future fee structures will depend on ongoing network policies and partnerships.
Q: What stablecoins are supported through this integration?
A: Initially, USDT and USDC are fully supported. Additional stablecoins may be added as the ecosystem expands.
Q: How fast are transactions on the Aptos network?
A: Transactions settle in under one second, providing near-instant finality—ideal for time-sensitive payments and high-frequency use cases.
Q: Do I need technical knowledge to use this service?
A: No. Yellow Card provides an intuitive mobile and web interface designed for non-technical users. You can buy, send, and receive stablecoins as easily as sending a text message.
Q: Is my money safe using stablecoins?
A: Stablecoins like USDT and USDC are pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar and backed by reserves. While market risks exist, they offer greater stability compared to volatile cryptocurrencies or depreciating local currencies.
👉 Learn how secure, scalable blockchains are redefining trust in digital finance.
Building the Future of African Finance
This partnership between Aptos Labs and Yellow Card represents more than a technical integration—it’s a step toward equitable financial access for millions. By combining cutting-edge blockchain performance with localized financial services expertise, the collaboration sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in emerging markets.
As stablecoins continue to mature into mainstream payment instruments, infrastructure like Aptos’ will play a pivotal role in enabling real-time economies. For Africa—a continent defined by innovation, resilience, and rapid digital adoption—this moment could mark the beginning of a new financial era.
With speed, scalability, and user-centric design at its core, the Aptos network is proving itself not just as a technological advancement, but as a catalyst for economic empowerment across Africa.