In an era where traditional financial systems often fail to serve emerging markets effectively, Yellow Card has emerged as a trailblazer in Africa's fintech landscape. Founded with the mission to make cryptocurrency accessible and practical for everyday use, the company has evolved into Africa's leading licensed stablecoin payments orchestrator.

By leveraging stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and PYUSD, Yellow Card enables seamless cross-border payments, treasury management, and USD liquidity for individuals and businesses across the continent.

As of November 2025, Yellow Card operates in over 20 African countries and has processed more than $6 billion in transaction volume, solidifying its role in driving financial inclusion amid economic challenges like high inflation and currency volatility.

From Dorm Room Idea to Pan-African Powerhouse: The History of Yellow Card

Yellow Card's story began in 2016 when co-founders Chris Maurice (CEO) and Justin Poiroux (CTO), then students at Auburn University in the United States, recognized the potential of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to solve real-world financial problems. Maurice, inspired by the inefficiencies in cross-border transfers and currency instability, initially explored building in the U.S. but pivoted to Africa after online conversations highlighted the continent's acute needs.

The company officially launched operations in Nigeria in 2019, starting as a consumer-focused cryptocurrency exchange allowing users to buy and sell Bitcoin and stablecoins using local currencies via bank transfers, mobile money, or cash. Early growth was explosive: by 2021, Yellow Card reached 1 million customers.

However, the team soon noticed a shift, businesses were increasingly using the platform for treasury management and international payments rather than retail trading. This insight prompted a strategic pivot toward B2B solutions.

Today, Yellow Card positions itself not just as an exchange but as critical financial infrastructure, empowering banks, fintechs, importers/exporters, and multinational corporations with stablecoin-based tools.

How Yellow Card Works: Bridging Fiat and Crypto Seamlessly

At its core, Yellow Card functions as Africa's largest and first licensed stablecoin on/off-ramp. Users deposit local currency (e.g., Naira in Nigeria, Cedi in Ghana, or Rand in South Africa) and receive stablecoins pegged to the USD. These can then be used for:

• Cross-border payments — Send/receive funds in 20+ African currencies, USD, EUR, GBP, CNY, and more, at fractions of traditional fees (often under 1% vs. 7-10% for services like Western Union).
• Treasury management — Businesses hedge against local currency depreciation by holding USD-pegged assets.
• Liquidity provision — API integrations allow partners to offer crypto-fiat conversions without building their own infrastructure.

Yellow Card earns revenue primarily through spreads on transactions rather than high fees, making it cost-effective. The platform supports direct invoicing, payroll, and settlements via stablecoins, eliminating intermediaries and reducing settlement times from days to minutes.

For consumers, the mobile app and web platform remain user-friendly, requiring no bank account in many cases—ideal for Africa's large unbanked population.

Yellow Card: Key Milestones and Achievements (2016–2025)

• 2016 – Founded Yellow Card was founded by Chris Maurice and Justin Poiroux in a U.S. college dorm room, marking the birth of their vision to bring cryptocurrency access to Africa.
• 2019 – Operational Launch in Nigeria The company officially launched operations in Nigeria, its first market, with a primary focus on providing retail users easy access to cryptocurrency.
• 2021 – Reached 1 Million Customers Yellow Card hit the major milestone of 1 million customers, reflecting rapid adoption of its services across the African continent.
• 2022 – $40M Series B Funding Raised $40 million in a Series B round led by Polychain Capital. The capital was used to accelerate product development and geographic expansion.
• 2024 – $33M Series C, South Africa License, and $3B+ Volume Secured $33 million in Series C funding led by Blockchain Capital, obtained a CASP (Crypto Asset Service Provider) license in South Africa, and surpassed $3 billion in total transaction volume. This period marked an accelerated pivot toward B2B solutions and stronger regulatory compliance.
• 2025 – Global Recognition and Major Partnerships Won the prestigious Grand Prix Payments Award at Money20/20, announced partnerships with Visa and Lightspark for Universal Money Addresses (UMA) and stablecoin cards, and exceeded $6 billion in total transaction volume, cementing its position as a leading African fintech player.

Global recognition; integrations for Universal Money Addresses (UMA) and stablecoin cards

Yellow Card has now raised over $85-90 million in total funding from top-tier investors including Blockchain Capital, Polychain, Block Inc. (Jack Dorsey's company), Coinbase Ventures, Winklevoss Capital, and Galaxy Ventures.

Strategic Partnerships Fueling Growth

Yellow Card's success is amplified by high-profile collaborations:

• Visa (2025): Exploring stablecoin-linked cards and faster cross-border settlements.
• Coinbase: Integrates Yellow Card's ramps for seamless USDC access in Africa via Coinbase Wallet.
• Block Inc.: Powers remittances into 16+ countries.
• Lightspark (2025): Integrates with Lightning Network for UMA-enabled payments, going live in early 2025.
• PayPal's Xoom: Uses Yellow Card for transfers to Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
• Centi (Swiss fintech): Expands European-to-Africa remittances.

These partnerships position Yellow Card as the go-to infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, with giants like Coinbase and Block relying on its API for African market entry.

The Broader Impact: Why Yellow Card Matters for Africa's Economy

Africa faces unique financial hurdles: average inflation exceeds 18%, remittances cost ~7% on average, and over 400 million adults remain unbanked. Stablecoins offer a lifeline—sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest stablecoin adoption rate at 9.2%, with countries like Nigeria and Kenya leading globally.

Yellow Card addresses these pain points directly:

• Remittances: Cheaper and faster than traditional channels.
• Trade: Importers/exporters avoid forex risks and delays.
• Inclusion: Empowers freelancers, SMEs, and diaspora communities.
• Innovation: As CEO Chris Maurice noted in 2025, six of the top 20 stablecoin-adopting countries are African, with $17 trillion settled globally via stablecoins in 2024 alone.

By prioritizing regulatory compliance (e.g., South Africa's CASP license), Yellow Card sets a standard for responsible fintech growth amid varying crypto regulations across the continent.

The Future: Global Ambitions from an African Base

Looking ahead, Yellow Card plans further expansion into markets like Morocco, Ethiopia, and beyond Africa (e.g., Brazil, India, Mexico). With new products like stablecoin treasury tools and developer APIs on the horizon, the company is poised to play a central role in the global shift toward digital dollars.

In Chris Maurice's words: "We're not just building a company; we're building infrastructure that makes financial access seamless and inclusive." As stablecoins reshape payments worldwide, Yellow Card is proving that Africa's fintech innovators are leading the charge.

Yellow Card isn't just a crypto platform—it's a catalyst for economic empowerment in emerging markets, turning the promise of blockchain into everyday reality for millions. For businesses eyeing Africa or individuals seeking better financial tools, Yellow Card represents the future of money on the continent.

Visit yellowcard.io to learn more.