Ripple joins forces with Chipper Cash for faster, cheaper cross-border transactions
Ripple has announced a partnership with Chipper Cash, a leading African payment infrastructure provider, to integrate Ripple Payments into its cross-border transaction system. The collaboration aims to enhance the speed, affordability, and efficiency of remittance services across Africa.
According to a statement released on 27 March, Chipper Cash will adopt Ripple’s blockchain-powered payment technology to facilitate cross-border transactions. The partnership marks an important milestone in Ripple’s expansion across the continent, as African businesses and consumers increasingly embrace blockchain solutions.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, highlighted the significance of the deal, stating:
“By integrating our technology into Chipper Cash’s platform, we’re enabling faster, more affordable cross-border payments while driving economic growth and innovation across the markets they serve.”
Blockchain Adoption Grows in African Remittances
Africa has seen rapid growth in blockchain adoption, particularly in the remittance and payments sector. A recent Chainalysis report revealed that stablecoins now account for nearly half of all transaction volumes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, a late 2024 study indicated that several emerging African economies have the potential to become major digital asset hubs.
As the remittance market expands, many companies are turning to blockchain technology to improve efficiency. Chipper Cash’s Co-Founder and CEO, Ham Serunjogi, emphasised the transformative impact of crypto-enabled payments on financial inclusion and access to global markets.
“Crypto-enabled payments have the potential to enable greater financial inclusion, accelerate access to global markets, and empower businesses and individuals across Africa,” said Serunjogi.
He further noted that by integrating Ripple’s technology, Chipper Cash can offer its customers faster and lower-cost transactions.
Ripple Expands Global Footprint
This latest partnership builds upon Ripple’s 2023 agreement with Onafriq, which facilitated payment processing between 27 African nations and key global regions, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Beyond Africa, Ripple has also been making strategic moves in other regions. In March, the company secured a licence in Dubai to provide cryptocurrency-powered payment services in the United Arab Emirates.
Furthermore, Ripple is expected to ramp up its global activities following its recent legal victory against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). CEO Brad Garlinghouse described the ruling as a defining moment for the company, stating:
“We now are in the driver’s seat to determine how we want to proceed.”
With blockchain adoption accelerating across Africa and beyond, Ripple’s collaboration with Chipper Cash represents another step towards transforming cross-border payments through crypto-powered solutions.
