Crypto News: IOTA, XLM, HBAR, and ALGO Shape Africa’s Future with Blockchain and Digital Payment Solutions

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Africa is embracing blockchain innovation, with projects like IOTA, Stellar, Hedera, and Algorand driving crypto adoption, digital payments, and financial inclusion.
These innovations are expected to create a ripple effect, encouraging crypto-resistant nations to reconsider their stance and adopt crypto-friendly policies.

Africa is quickly emerging as a leader in adopting Enterprise Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), with numerous partnerships and initiatives highlighting the potential of blockchain in payments, tokenization, and global trade. Despite facing challenges such as tough regulations and concerns across different countries, the continent is embracing blockchain innovation at a rapid pace.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the shift towards more pro-crypto policies under Donald Trump’s administration is contributing to a crypto-friendly regulatory landscape, further encouraging blockchain adoption globally.

IOTA’s TLIP

A major milestone in Africa’s blockchain adoption is IOTA’s collaboration with Trademark Africa, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the Institute of Export and International Trade, and the World Economic Forum (WEF). As we reported, this partnership drives the Trusted Logistics and Information Protocol (TLIP) initiative, aiming to enhance supply chain transparency, security, and efficiency.

By leveraging IOTA’s TLI Protocol, businesses across Africa can streamline cross-border trade, reduce operational costs, and build trust within the supply chain, unlocking economic growth and fostering smoother trade processes.

Stellar (XLM)

Stellar (XLM) is also playing a role in Africa’s digital payments revolution, particularly through integrations that enable fast and low-cost cross-border transactions. In 2024, Yellow Card, a pioneering fintech company in Africa, introduced USDC on the Stellar Network, improving remittances, treasury management, and cross-border payments.

In January 2025, Stellar partnered with Fonbnk, a digital wallet and decentralized app (dApp), to allow prepaid SIM users to convert airtime credits into USDC stablecoins, addressing the financial needs of 350 million unbanked Africans. By turning 8 billion active prepaid SIM cards into virtual debit cards, Stellar is expanding financial inclusion and tackling issues like remittance inefficiencies and limited access to banking services. At the time of writing, XLM was trading at $2.51, up by 6.71% over the past 24 hours.

Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR)

Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) is playing a pivotal role in Africa’s financial sector, particularly in Ghana and Kenya. In Ghana, Hedera partnered with EMTECH, a fintech company specializing in digital finance solutions, to support the launch of Ghana’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). By leveraging Hedera’s network, the CBDC enables fast, secure, and scalable transactions, reinforcing the country’s financial infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) integrated Hedera’s blockchain technology in 2024 to streamline carbon trading through green certificates (GC). This initiative enhances transparency, security, and efficiency in trading green assets, promoting sustainability and accelerating digital finance adoption across the region.

Algorand (ALGO)

Algorand (ALGO) is making significant strides in expanding tokenization and blockchain-based financial services across Africa through key partnerships and initiatives. Koibanx and FlexFin, two leading fintech firms, have integrated Algorand’s blockchain to facilitate tokenized assets, enhancing transaction efficiency, security, and speed.

Additionally, the Algorand Foundation recently engaged in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria to explore blockchain applications in capital markets, with special recognition to Director General Dr. Emomotimi Agama for driving regulatory conversations on blockchain adoption.

Bridging Innovation & Regulation!