Circle Payments Network Expands to Nigeria with Yellow Card Partnership

• Circle Payments Network partners with Yellow Card for real-time Naira payouts in Nigeria.
• The collaboration targets remittances and gig economy payments, leveraging stablecoins like USDC.
• Concerns arise over Yellow Card’s low Trustpilot rating and past account issues.

Circle Payments Network (CPN) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Yellow Card, introducing real-time Naira (NGN) payouts in Nigeria.

This collaboration leverages stablecoins like USDC to revolutionize cross-border payments, targeting use cases such as remittances, payroll, gig economy transactions, and trade finance. The move comes at a pivotal time, with Nigeria recognized as Africa’s largest economy and a leader in crypto adoption, handling an estimated $125 billion in on-chain value between July 2023 and June 2024, according to the 2024 Chainalysis Geography of Crypto Report.

This initiative promises to streamline financial operations by offering near-instant settlements, a significant improvement over traditional banking systems that often incur high fees and delays. The World Bank reported $20 billion in annual remittances to Nigeria in 2024, and stablecoin-based systems could reduce costs by up to 70%, as noted in a 2023 IMF study on cross-border payment efficiency. By integrating Yellow Card’s infrastructure, CPN aims to unlock faster access to funds for millions, aligning with Nigeria’s evolving digital finance landscape following the lifting of its 2021 crypto ban, which has seen a 150% surge in transactions in 2025.

However, the partnership has sparked mixed reactions. While some on X praise the innovation, others highlight Yellow Card’s 1.8-star Trustpilot rating and reports of frozen accounts, raising concerns about reliability and regulatory oversight. This echoes broader debates around stablecoin compliance, as outlined in a 2020 Forbes analysis under the STABLE Act. Circle and Yellow Card will need to address these challenges to build trust in Nigeria’s burgeoning crypto market, where fraud risks remain high, with $178 billion in illicit crypto activity reported over five years by Chainalysis 2025.

This expansion positions CPN as a key player in Africa’s financial evolution, bridging traditional and digital economies. As adoption grows, the partnership’s success will hinge on balancing innovation with robust security measures.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.