Advertisement
Circle Expands USDC Into Africa to Tackle High Remittance Costs
- Circle is partnering with Sasai Fintech to integrate USDC into African payment systems, targeting cross-border transfers and digital wallets.
- The move aims to reduce remittance costs and improve settlement speed in regions where fees remain persistently high.
- The initiative reflects growing stablecoin adoption in Africa and a broader push to build real-world payment use cases.
Circle has entered into a collaboration with Sasai Fintech to broaden the reach of its USDC stablecoin across Africa, focusing on improving payment efficiency and lowering the cost of cross-border transfers. The agreement will see USDC integrated into Sasai’s payments network, which supports remittances, enterprise transactions and mobile wallet services.
USDC is a fully backed digital dollar that can be redeemed at a 1:1 rate and is used to facilitate programmable, blockchain-based payments globally. By combining Circle’s onchain infrastructure with Sasai’s platforms, the initiative aims to shorten settlement times and reduce fees associated with international transfers.
Sasai Fintech delivers digital payment solutions across several African markets, helping businesses and individuals navigate complex cross-border transactions and fragmented financial systems. The integration is expected to strengthen connections to the global financial system while supporting digital-first payment behaviours.
Related: Circle Surges 30% as Earnings Beat and Bold USDC Growth Targets Ignite Rally
Remittance Costs a Key Barrier
The partnership comes as stablecoin adoption increases across the region, supported by growing demand for mobile financial services and cross-border commerce. Remittance fees remain elevated in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, with some countries recording costs above 7%, underscoring the need for more efficient alternatives.
This development reflects a wider push within the stablecoin sector to expand practical use cases, particularly in remittances and everyday payments, as companies seek to drive adoption in high-growth markets.
Related: SEC Advances Plan to Exclude Most Crypto Assets from Securities Rules
Author
Rachel Lourdesamy
Rachel is a freelance writer based in Sydney with experience within financial services, marketing, and corporate communications in the APAC region. An avid reader and a graduate of the University of Sydney, she covers topics including business, finance and human interest.
