African payments technology company Flutterwave has entered a partnership with France-based cross-border payments firm Tempo to facilitate settlements using stablecoins, according to an announcement on June 5, 2026. The integration will allow Flutterwave’s business customers to send and receive payments across borders using digital currencies pegged to the value of the US dollar or the euro, aiming to reduce the cost and time associated with traditional banking channels.

The partnership seeks to address persistent friction in intra-African and global trade payments, which are often slowed by reliance on correspondent banking networks and multiple currency conversions. By using stablecoins for settlement, the companies state that transaction times can be reduced from days to minutes while lowering fees. Flutterwave, which processes payments for merchants across the continent, will integrate Tempo’s infrastructure to offer this new settlement option alongside its existing services.

Flutterwave’s move into crypto-based settlement follows a broader industry trend of fintechs exploring digital assets to improve cross-border flows, a critical need in a region with over 40 different currencies. The company, which is headquartered in San Francisco but operates primarily in Africa, has previously faced regulatory scrutiny in some markets, including Kenya, over its operational practices. This new venture with Tempo represents a strategic expansion of its service suite as it seeks to solidify its position in the competitive African payments landscape.

Tempo, regulated in France and specializing in international money transfers, provides the licensed framework for converting fiat currency to stablecoins and vice versa. The firm’s chief executive, Anthony Barker, described the partnership as a step toward "democratizing access to fast and affordable cross-border payments" for African businesses. The service is initially targeted at Flutterwave’s corporate and merchant clients, rather than individual consumers.

The announcement comes amid a flurry of partnerships aimed at modernizing African financial infrastructure. In early June, digital payments platform Interswitch announced a separate collaboration with banking software firm Temenos to scale digital banking services across the continent. Meanwhile, other firms like Esca Finance have partnered with platforms such as MANSA to facilitate same-day settlements for African trade, highlighting a concentrated industry effort to solve long-standing settlement inefficiencies.

Regulatory acceptance of stablecoins for mainstream payments remains a developing area across Africa. While some central banks, including Nigeria’s, have launched their own digital currencies, the use of private stablecoins for commercial settlement occupies a more ambiguous space. Flutterwave and Tempo indicate their service will operate in full compliance with applicable regulations in the jurisdictions they serve, though specific regulatory approvals were not detailed in the initial announcement.