Visa, M-Pesa and Onafriq Launch Stablecoin Pilot in DRC for Cross-Border Payments
Updated
Updated · Techpoint Africa · Jul 2
Visa, M-Pesa and Onafriq Launch Stablecoin Pilot in DRC for Cross-Border Payments
3 articles · Updated · Techpoint Africa · Jul 2
Summary
The Democratic Republic of Congo is hosting a new pilot in which Visa, M-Pesa and Onafriq use stablecoins to settle cross-border mobile money transactions.
The test aims to cut the cost and time of African cross-border transfers by moving some settlement off traditional banking rails and onto blockchain-based digital dollars.
For M-Pesa users, a successful rollout could bring faster wallet top-ups, cheaper remittances and smoother international transfers without changing the mobile money interface.
DRC was chosen because mobile money use is rising while many people still lack bank access; Visa recently launched Visa Pay there, linking cards and mobile wallets.
The pilot also extends Visa and M-Pesa's broader stablecoin push, and if it works in DRC, the model could expand to more African markets.
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The DRC Stablecoin Pilot: A Blueprint for Faster, Cheaper, and Inclusive Cross-Border Payments in Africa
Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is piloting a groundbreaking initiative led by Visa, M-Pesa, and Onafriq to tackle long-standing inefficiencies in cross-border payments across Africa. By using stablecoins for backend settlement, the pilot enables faster, cheaper, and more accessible international payments, while customers continue to use their familiar M-Pesa wallets without noticing any change. This seamless integration aims to modernize financial infrastructure without disrupting user habits. The initiative reflects a strategic response to previous solutions that struggled with remittances and business transactions, and it sets the stage for broader adoption of stablecoins by banks, fintechs, and mobile operators.