“In 2026, stablecoins will increasingly function as primary financial accounts for individuals and SMEs in emerging markets” – Efayomi Carr

Prediction

In 2026, stablecoins will increasingly function as primary financial accounts for individuals and SMEs in emerging markets, used not only for transfers but also for payroll, savings, and everyday balances—often outside traditional bank accounts.

Supporting Evidence

Large platforms are already shifting payouts and remittances to stablecoins because they offer instant, 24/7 settlement and global reach, while UX improvements and card integrations are making non-custodial wallets usable for everyday financial activity. At the same time, banks and fintech infrastructure providers are experimenting with ways to integrate on-chain balances into core systems, signalling a move from “payment rail” to “account-like” usage.

We can see this shift in Africa through stablecoin transaction volumes, which reached $54 billion between mid‑2024 and mid‑2025. According to Yellow Card’s 2025 report, Sub‑Saharan Africa now has the world’s highest stablecoin adoption rate at 9.3%, with these assets primarily used for cross‑border payments, accessing U.S. dollars, and hedging against local currency volatility.

The GENIUS Act, by providing clear legal backing for U.S. dollar stablecoins and increasing global trust, sets the stage for even faster adoption in 2026 and beyond. This momentum has encouraged countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa to advance policies that accommodate stablecoins and support regulated innovation.

Risk Factors

Regulatory pushback—particularly concerns around dollarisation, consumer protection, or stablecoin custody—could limit retail access or force fragmentation into local stablecoins before these products reach full maturity.

Who is Efayomi Carr?

Efayomi is a Principal at Flourish Ventures and a co-founder of Madica, where he also serves as a board observer.

Before joining Flourish, he was Head of Strategic Finance at Lori, the logistics startup building market infrastructure for the trucking industry. Earlier in his career, he worked at Quona Capital and at Boston Consulting Group and served as Head of Marketplace at Jumia.