Hassan Maishera
TL;DR
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Ripple invested in Flutterwave’s Series E funding round, valuing the company at $3.2 billion.
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Flutterwave will integrate Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin into its payments network.
Ripple Backs Flutterwave’s $3.2 Billion Funding Round
Ripple, the blockchain company closely associated with the XRP Ledger (XRP), has invested in African payments giant Flutterwave as part of the company's Series E funding round, strengthening a partnership focused on expanding stablecoin-powered cross-border payments across the continent.
Flutterwave announced Tuesday that the funding round values the company at $3.2 billion, although the financial details of Ripple’s investment were not disclosed.
The deal marks another strategic move by Ripple to accelerate the adoption of its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, in real-world payment applications.
RLUSD to Power International Settlements
As part of the partnership, Flutterwave will integrate RLUSD into its payments infrastructure, enabling businesses to settle certain international transactions using digital dollars.
The integration is expected to provide companies with an alternative to traditional banking rails, potentially reducing costs, improving settlement speeds, and simplifying access to U.S. dollar liquidity.
In addition, Flutterwave will connect to Ripple Payments, Ripple’s global payments network, while leveraging the XRP Ledger blockchain to process transactions more efficiently.
The companies said the collaboration is designed to make cross-border payments easier and more affordable for businesses operating across Africa and international markets.
The investment highlights the growing importance of stablecoins as a practical payment and settlement tool.
While digital assets have historically been associated with trading and speculation, stablecoins are increasingly being adopted for international money transfers, treasury management, and cross-border commerce.
The demand is particularly strong in emerging markets, where access to foreign currencies can be limited, and businesses often face challenges moving money across borders through traditional financial systems.
By incorporating RLUSD into its network, Flutterwave aims to provide customers with more efficient ways to manage international transactions while maintaining exposure to U.S. dollar-denominated value.
Ripple sees Africa as a key growth market for stablecoin adoption, given the region’s significant remittance flows and rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.
“Flutterwave has built one of the most advanced payments networks in Africa, and as its infrastructure evolves, stablecoins are becoming central to that story,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Ripple.
He added that the investment will help establish RLUSD within Flutterwave’s ecosystem while increasing the use of the XRP Ledger as a settlement layer for real-world payment activity across the continent.
The partnership also strengthens Ripple’s efforts to position RLUSD as a major player in the increasingly competitive stablecoin market.
RLUSD Continues to Grow Amid Intense Competition
RLUSD currently has a circulating supply of approximately $1.6 billion, representing growth of more than 20% this year.
Despite that expansion, Ripple’s stablecoin remains smaller than leading competitors such as Tether’s USDT, Circle’s USDC, and Paxos-issued stablecoins.
The broader stablecoin sector has continued to expand rapidly, with total global stablecoin supply reaching approximately $300 billion.
As adoption accelerates among businesses and payment providers, stablecoins are increasingly emerging as one of the most significant real-world applications of blockchain technology.
For both companies, the partnership represents an opportunity to modernize international payments infrastructure.
Flutterwave gains access to blockchain-based settlement technology and digital dollar liquidity, while Ripple expands RLUSD’s reach into one of the world's fastest-growing fintech markets.
With cross-border payments remaining a critical challenge for businesses across Africa, integrating RLUSD and XRP Ledger technology could streamline international commerce and accelerate the adoption of blockchain-powered financial services throughout the region.
