The first edition of the Africa Stablecoin Summit 2025 brought together more than 300 financial, regulatory and technology leaders to discuss how stablecoins can strengthen Africa’s financial systems and support economic resilience. The two day event was powered by Binance with support from Tether, Visa and Telcoin.
The summit, themed Harnessing Stablecoins for Africa’s Economic Resilience, convened representatives from central banks, commercial banks, fintech companies, stablecoin issuers, development partners and blockchain infrastructure firms. Delegates attended from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa along with representatives from the United Nations, the Pan African Payment and Settlement System, the International Monetary Fund and other global organisations.
Recent industry data shows the growing importance of stablecoins across Africa. Yellow Card reports that stablecoins accounted for 43 percent of crypto transaction volume in Sub Saharan Africa in 2024. The Center for Global Development also notes that international stablecoin flows already represent about 6.7 percent of GDP across Africa and the Middle East.
Key sessions included a keynote by Larry Cooke, Africa Head of Legal at Binance, titled Unlocking Africa’s Digital Future: The Role of Stablecoins in Driving Financial Inclusion. A regulators roundtable explored the foundations of a Pan African stablecoin regulatory framework. Other sessions examined practical use cases in trade and small businesses, insights from South Africa’s Project Khokha and lessons drawn from the United States GENIUS Act. Developer sessions highlighted how startups can build new stablecoin infrastructure for the continent. A town hall discussion closed the event with a focus on scaling regional payment rails.
Larry Cooke of Binance said stablecoins represent a pathway to inclusive and efficient cross border financial systems. He noted that Binance is committed to responsible innovation and to working closely with regulators to improve access to the digital economy.
Visa’s Senior Vice President for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions in CEMEA, Shahebaz Khan, said the company is extending its global payments infrastructure to support stablecoins. He explained that pairing Visa’s network with stablecoin technology could make global money movement faster, more secure and more accessible for both consumers and businesses.
Telcoin CEO Paul Neuner added that stablecoins could reshape how telecom companies participate in digital payments. He pointed to a future where telcos support an “internet of money” in the same way they operate the traditional internet today.
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