Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network of networks, has announced a strategic partnership with on-chain payment infrastructure provider Conduit to enhance cross-border payments and treasury operations across more than 40 African markets. The collaboration introduces stablecoin-powered global payments infrastructure designed to improve speed, cost efficiency, and financial interoperability. The initiative marks a significant step in integrating digital assets into mainstream financial services across the continent.
Streamlining Treasury and Cross-Border Flows
The partnership addresses longstanding inefficiencies in traditional cross-border payment systems, which often rely on legacy rails such as SWIFT and can take several days to settle. By leveraging Conduit’s infrastructure, Onafriq will use regulated stablecoins such as USDC to fund accounts and manage treasury flows more efficiently. This integration enables near-instant settlement and same-day payments into markets that previously experienced slower processing times.
Through this collaboration, Onafriq strengthens its ability to rebalance liquidity across its network and optimize operational costs. The stablecoin layer allows faster capital movement while maintaining compliance and reliability. As a result, businesses connected to Onafriq’s network gain access to more agile and predictable payment capabilities.
Expanding Real-Time Interoperability Across Africa
Onafriq connects over one billion mobile money wallets and more than 500 million bank accounts through its payment infrastructure. The partnership with Conduit enhances this existing footprint by embedding programmable digital asset functionality into cross-border flows. This move aligns with Onafriq’s broader vision of enabling real-time, interoperable trade across diverse African currencies and payment systems.
By merging Conduit’s global stablecoin network with Onafriq’s extensive local payment rails, the collaboration strengthens access to reliable payout methods. Merchants and financial institutions can benefit from faster international settlement while retaining the ability to operate within local regulatory and currency frameworks. The integration positions stablecoins as a practical bridge between global liquidity and local payment ecosystems.
Leadership Commentary on the Strategic Alliance
Luke Khohere, Group Chief Product and Innovation Officer at Onafriq, emphasized the importance of innovation in advancing financial inclusion. He stated that the integration of stablecoin-powered payouts enhances efficiency and expands access to faster, more reliable cross-border payment solutions. According to Khohere, the partnership reinforces Onafriq’s commitment to modernizing Africa’s financial infrastructure.
Kirill Gertman, co-founder and CEO of Conduit, highlighted the broader implications of the alliance for fintech development in emerging markets. He described Onafriq as a leading example of how technology can transform financial access at scale. Gertman added that combining stablecoin infrastructure with established payment networks unlocks significant opportunities for global and regional commerce.
Strengthening Africa’s Digital Payments Infrastructure
The collaboration is expected to improve transparency and speed across critical economic activities such as trade and remittances. By enabling users to receive funds via stablecoins and seamlessly convert them into local fiat currencies, the system creates a more flexible settlement pathway. Onafriq’s network, which includes over 400,000 agents in Nigeria and extensive banking integrations across the continent, provides the on-the-ground infrastructure necessary for widespread adoption.
The use of stablecoins for treasury and settlement functions reflects a growing shift toward blockchain-based financial rails in emerging markets. As African economies continue to digitize, the integration of programmable digital assets offers a scalable method to reduce friction in cross-border transactions. This approach supports both institutional payment flows and broader financial inclusion goals.
The partnership between Onafriq and Conduit represents a meaningful evolution in Africa’s cross-border payments landscape. By embedding stablecoin-powered infrastructure into an established pan-African payment network, the two companies are addressing inefficiencies that have long constrained international settlement. As adoption of digital assets expands, this collaboration underscores the role of stablecoins in building a faster, more interoperable, and inclusive financial ecosystem across Africa.