Ripple just bought into Africa’s biggest fintech company

Flutterwave has secured a strategic investment from Ripple as part of its Flutterwave Series E funding round, marking a significant milestone in the company’s effort to expand stablecoin-based payment infrastructure across Africa.

Announced on June 17, 2026, the partnership brings together Africa’s largest payments infrastructure company and Ripple, a leading provider of blockchain-based financial solutions, with the aim of accelerating cross-border payments and enhancing digital liquidity across the continent.

The investment forms part of the Flutterwave Series E fundraising round, which values the company at $3.2 billion. According to the companies, the collaboration is intended to strengthen stablecoin settlement capabilities, improve transaction efficiency and position African businesses to participate more directly in the global digital economy.

Flutterwave Series E reinforces stablecoin strategy

The latest Flutterwave Series E investment represents the next phase of Flutterwave’s long-term strategy to integrate digital assets into its payments ecosystem.

Under the partnership, Flutterwave plans to embed Ripple USD (RLUSD) into its existing infrastructure and establish what it describes as a “stablecoin-first” payment architecture. The company said this approach is designed to streamline liquidity, reduce settlement delays and create a more efficient framework for international transactions.

The Flutterwave Series E round also highlights growing institutional confidence in the fintech company, which has raised more than $500 million and processed over one billion transactions valued at more than $50 billion.

By integrating stablecoin-powered settlement and remittance capabilities into its ecosystem, Flutterwave aims to eliminate many of the frictions associated with traditional cross-border payments, including lengthy settlement times and foreign exchange inefficiencies.

The development comes as digital assets continue to gain acceptance as practical tools for international commerce and payments.

Ripple partnership expands Flutterwave Series E ambitions

A major component of the Flutterwave Series E initiative is the integration of Ripple’s enterprise blockchain technology with Flutterwave’s payment infrastructure.

The collaboration is built around three pillars: incorporating RLUSD into Flutterwave’s payment rails and Send App remittance channels, using the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to accelerate transaction processing, and deploying a unified API that links Flutterwave’s domestic networks with Ripple Payments’ global infrastructure.

The companies say the combination of traditional payment methods—including bank transfers, local cards and mobile wallets—with blockchain technology will provide businesses with improved liquidity, more predictable pricing and real-time settlement.

Speaking on the partnership, Reece Merrick, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Ripple, said stablecoins are increasingly becoming an integral component of Flutterwave’s 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,” — Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Ripple.

“Our investment will establish RLUSD within that infrastructure, with Flutterwave driving stablecoin flows over the XRPL and deepening its role as a settlement layer for real-world payments across the continent,” he added.

“Together we also plan to bring Ripple Payments’ speed and efficiency to cross-border transactions in the region, opening up faster, lower-cost financial services to businesses and consumers at scale.” — Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Ripple.

The strategic alliance further underscores the importance of the Flutterwave Series E round in shaping the future of digital payments in Africa.

Flutterwave Series E aims to strengthen African commerce

Flutterwave Founder and Chief Executive Officer Olugbenga “GB” Agboola described the investment as a key moment in the company’s growth journey.

“This investment marks a pivotal moment in our journey, enabling us to significantly scale our infrastructure and expand our stablecoin-enabled payments roadmap,” — Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, Founder and CEO, Flutterwave.

“By unlocking faster settlement and lower-cost cross-border payments, we are building a payment superhighway that connects African commerce directly to the global economy,” he said.

“This partnership is a catalyst for Nigerian and African sovereignty in the digital financial age, ensuring our markets are primary participants in the global digital asset revolution.” — Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, Founder and CEO, Flutterwave.

Executives believe the Flutterwave Series E funding and the deeper product alliance with Ripple will accelerate the company’s objective of connecting conventional financial systems with next-generation digital asset infrastructure.

The Flutterwave Series E round arrives at a time when businesses across Africa are increasingly seeking faster and more cost-effective methods of conducting international transactions. By leveraging blockchain-based liquidity and settlement systems, Flutterwave intends to provide enterprises with tools that support growth and facilitate greater access to global markets.

With its strengthened balance sheet and expanded technological capabilities, the company is positioning itself to unlock new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as multinational businesses operating throughout Africa.

As the Flutterwave Series E funding progresses and additional announcements are expected in the coming months, the partnership with Ripple signals a broader push toward integrating stablecoins into mainstream payments infrastructure. For Africa’s digital economy, the Flutterwave Series E milestone may represent another step toward building a more interconnected and efficient financial ecosystem.

Primary Source: Nairametrics