Ripple Says Africa’s Crypto Growth Gains Pace as Regulation Advances in 2026

Ripple Ties Demand to Clearer Crypto Rules

Ripple said Africa’s digital asset market is entering a new phase. It linked that shift to better regulation and wider business use. The company stated that clearer rules are facilitating the transition of crypto into payments and settlement.

Ripple pointed to demand for RLUSD, its compliance-focused stablecoin. It cited work with Mercy Corps Ventures in Kenya to improve aid delivery. It also named partnerships with Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card.

Ripple added that custody services are drawing interest from financial firms. It pointed to its partnership with Absa Bank. The company said “57% of respondents” in its 2026 finance survey preferred integrated custody, orchestration, and compliance.

South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, and Nigeria Lead

South Africa remains one of Africa’s earliest regulated crypto markets. Since June 2023, crypto assets have been treated as financial products. Crypto Asset Service Providers must be licensed and supervised by the FSCA and the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Kenya has also moved forward. Its National Treasury introduced a draft VASP bill in March 2025. The law was signed in October 2025, with oversight assigned to the Central Bank of Kenya and the Capital Markets Authority.

Mauritius has operated under the VAITOS Act since 2021. Its Financial Services Commission licenses VASPs, including custodians and marketplace operators. Nigeria also updated its framework through the Investments and Securities Act 2025, which recognized digital assets as securities.

Nigeria’s central bank has also eased earlier restrictions on banks working with licensed crypto firms. Ripple said Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, and Seychelles are also moving toward formal frameworks.

Payments and Stablecoins Support Wider Adoption

Ripple said crypto demand in Africa is tied to practical use. Cross-border payments are often slow and costly. Access to stable foreign currency also remains limited in many markets.

The company said Africa already leads in mobile money. It noted that the region accounts for 70% of the global $1 trillion mobile money market. In Sub-Saharan Africa, adult mobile money ownership rose to 40% in 2024 from 27% in 2021.

Ripple also pointed to crypto activity across the region. Nigeria ranked sixth and Ethiopia ranked twelfth in the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa received more than $205 billion in onchain value, up 52% year over year.

Ripple said stablecoins are becoming more useful for trade settlement, treasury management, and cross-border payments. It said stronger regulation is helping support that growth across Africa.

This article was originally published as Ripple Says Africa’s Crypto Growth Gains Pace as Regulation Advances in 2026 on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.