Ripple has launched a strategic partnership with Chipper Cash to expand the use of Ripple-powered payment services across Africa.
The move comes as the global blockchain firm seeks to tap into Africa’s growing cross-border payments sector.
The partnership will enable five million Chipper Cash users across nine African countries to access crypto-enabled remittances via Ripple’s payment rails.
The integration highlights Ripple’s intent to diversify beyond traditional markets, making inroads into a region where digital payments and financial inclusion are evolving rapidly.
XRP enters African payments market
Ripple’s new collaboration with Chipper Cash brings its blockchain-based solutions to a user base spread across countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya.
The deal allows users to send and receive funds using XRP-backed rails, potentially reducing fees and settlement times compared to traditional payment networks.
Chipper Cash, a fintech firm, supports person-to-person payments, bill payments, and airtime top-ups.
The company has been expanding its footprint across Africa, backed by funding from investors such as Jeff Bezos’ personal venture fund, Bezos Expeditions.
With this partnership, Chipper Cash becomes one of the latest fintech firms to adopt Ripple’s enterprise blockchain offerings.
Ripple’s blockchain, which supports real-time gross settlement and remittance infrastructure, is being deployed to meet surging demand for quicker and more affordable international transfers in Africa, where remittance fees often exceed 8% of the amount sent.
SEC case ends with $50m settlement
The announcement coincides with Ripple’s decision to end its appeal against the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company has agreed to settle its case, which began in December 2020, with a reduced penalty of $50 million—down from the original $125 million.
While the deal has been disclosed publicly, the final settlement still requires formal approval from the Commission.
Documentation and court procedures must be completed before the legal proceedings officially close.
The case had centred on whether Ripple’s XRP token constituted an unregistered security offering, a classification Ripple has consistently contested.
With legal uncertainty now nearing resolution, Ripple is refocusing its efforts on global expansion. The company has been active in markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The new Africa-focused partnership signals a broader push into emerging markets.
XRP dips despite new partnership
Despite the partnership announcement, Ripple’s XRP token traded down 4.15% to $2.36 on Thursday.
The token’s market capitalisation currently stands at $137.5 billion.
The price decline comes amid broader volatility in the crypto market and investor caution following Ripple’s legal update.
XRP’s role in the Chipper Cash integration has not yet led to a spike in market activity, although the project’s long-term utility potential may draw renewed interest as adoption expands.
The token’s utility for liquidity provisioning and settlement could become more pronounced as use cases grow across the African payments ecosystem.
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