Africa largest lender by assets, Standard Bank, is deepening its push into digital finance, unveiling plans to expand stablecoin infrastructure as adoption across the continent accelerates.
The bank said it processed 164 trillion rand in payments in 2025, including more than 1 trillion rand in cross-border transactions through its blockchain-based Aroko platform. The scale highlights growing demand for faster and cheaper settlement systems across African markets.
Standard Bank is now developing a rand-denominated stablecoin through its ZARU initiative, signaling a move to integrate digital assets into traditional banking systems.
Analysts say the move reflects a broader industry shift where financial institutions are no longer experimenting with blockchain but actively deploying it to solve inefficiencies in cross-border trade.
Recent data shows Africa has the highest stablecoin adoption globally, with 79% of crypto-active users holding stablecoins. Nigeria alone accounts for about $22 billion in stablecoin transaction volume, driven by currency volatility and demand for dollar-pegged alternatives.
Experts say the trend is less about speculation and more about infrastructure, as stablecoins are increasingly used for payments, remittances and business settlements rather than trading activity.
Shift to trade finance
The evolution is particularly visible in business-to-business payments. Platforms like Mansa are leveraging stablecoins to address liquidity constraints in cross-border trade, having processed more than $320 million since launching in August 2024.
Backed by a $10 million seed round led by Tether, Mansa focuses on reducing reliance on prefunding, minimizing foreign exchange spreads and closing liquidity gaps that slow African trade flows.
Industry leaders say Standard Bank entry validates stablecoins as a credible financial rail, accelerating adoption both from the top down through institutions and bottom up among businesses and consumers.
Mouloukou Sanoh, chief executive and co-founder of Mansa, said the shift highlights how stablecoins are becoming core infrastructure for African trade rather than a niche crypto use case.
As Africa trade volumes grow, stablecoins are increasingly positioned not as a crypto trend but as a foundational layer for the continent financial future.
