Leading cross-border payment network Thunes has announced two strategic partnerships with Ecobank and Yellow Card aimed at accelerating stablecoin adoption and improving cross-border payments across emerging markets, including Africa.
Thunes Partners with Yellow Card
In the partnership announcement with Yellow Card, Thunes stated that the collaboration leverages its extensive global network and Yellow Card’s robust stablecoin infrastructure to enable seamless and more accessible cross-border settlements for individuals and businesses, using blockchain and digital asset technology.
Yellow Card will provide critical stablecoin infrastructure and expertise that enables Thunes to overcome traditional bottlenecks in global treasury using stablecoins. Leveraging Yellow Card’s vast network across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa empowers Thunes to execute payment flows at unprecedented speed, optimize liquidity on a global scale, and insulate its business from currency fluctuations, future-proofing its operations for the digital asset economy.”
The partnership addresses long-standing complications in international transactions, including exorbitant transfer costs, currency fluctuations, and limited access to traditional banking systems. By integrating stablecoin solutions, powered by Yellow Card, into Thunes’ payment system, this partnership aims to enable seamless and cost-effective cross-border transactions for individuals and institutions.
Yellow Card, the first licensed stablecoin infrastructure provider, operates in 34 countries, of which 20 are situated within Africa. Therefore, it is well recognized for its robust stablecoin infrastructure, as well as its growing influence in the African region, making it an ideal partner for Thunes, which seeks to connect emerging markets to global liquidity via stablecoins.
“Thunes is committed to building bridges between the traditional and digital financial ecosystems, driving global payment interoperability in the process. Working with Yellow Card allows us to deliver more efficient liquidity solutions and cross-border payments for businesses, supporting our mission to enable the next billion end users in emerging markets to access the global economy.” as stated by Chloe Mayenobe, President and Chief Operating Officer at Thunes
The collaboration underscores both institutions’ commitment to leveraging innovative fintech solutions in addressing the challenges in the financial systems of emerging markets.
Thunes Announces Collaboration with Ecobank Group
The day following the Yellow Card Partnership announcement, Thunes unveiled a second collaboration with Ecobank Group, a leading pan-African financial institution. This partnership intends to enable instant cross-border payments for millions of individuals and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa.
The groundwork for this partnership was laid in 2024 between Ecobank Group and TransferTo, Thunes Holding Company, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to that effect.
This initiative promises to revolutionize how people send and receive money across borders, enabling faster settlements and easier access to liquidity. It is expected to unlock new financial opportunities, serving as a catalyst for the development of the digital financial economy across the region.
“This collaboration marks a major development in how we power payments across Africa,” said Peter De Caluwe, co-founder and CEO of Thunes.
“Thunes’ solutions and Ecobank’s reach are a perfect match: together we’re delivering faster, more reliable access to liquidity and creating new pathways for growth across Sub-Saharan Africa. The result is a live, large-scale solution that’s transforming how money moves across the continent. This represents a key milestone in our mission to enable the next billion end users to engage in the global economy.”
Ecobank Group operates in 32 countries across Africa, offering a deep local network and expertise. Paired with Thunes’ global network, which ranges over 130 countries and more than 7 billion wallets and bank accounts, this partnership promises to enhance financial inclusion by granting global liquidity access to individuals, communities, and businesses in Africa.
“Our collaboration with Thunes perfectly aligns with Ecobank’s mission to provide borderless banking and drive financial inclusion across Africa,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group.
“By combining our robust banking infrastructure with Thunes’ fintech innovation and trusted Direct Global Network, we’re expanding real-time financial access for millions and driving the growth of Africa’s digital economy.”
Togo is the first country to benefit from this collaboration. Ecobank customers in Togo can now receive instant payments from global remittance providers. A broader continental expansion across the continent is underway.
Thunes’ recent partnerships with Yellow Card and Ecobank indicate its strong interest in advancing digital finance innovation and financial inclusion in Africa. These collaborations also reflect a growing trend towards the use of blockchain infrastructure to promote global economic participation and digital transformation
