Ripple invests in Flutterwave, expands RLUSD stablecoin across Africa

Ripple has taken an equity stake in African fintech Flutterwave as part of the company's Series E round, valuing the payments platform at roughly $3.2‑$3.3 billion. The investment brings Ripple’s dollar‑pegged stablecoin RLUSD and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) into Flutterwave’s infrastructure, covering 34‑35 African markets. RLUSD will serve as a primary settlement asset for cross‑border remittances processed through Flutterwave’s Send app, while the XRPL provides fast clearing via an API that links domestic rails to Ripple’s global payments network.

The move coincides with rapid growth of the XRPL stablecoin ecosystem. Total stablecoin market capitalization on the ledger has risen from about $277 million at the start of 2026 to $907 million, with RLUSD accounting for over 84 % of that value (approximately $763 million). This brings the XRPL stablecoin market close to the $1 billion milestone.

Large XRP holders have also been accumulating the token: wallets holding at least one million XRP added 1.53 billion XRP over six months, now controlling roughly 74 % of the circulating supply. Following RLUSD’s listing on Gate.io, XRP price rose about 5 % to $1.23, with trading volume surging 115 % in 24 hours.

Overall, the partnership aims to lower fees and settlement times for African businesses, while positioning Ripple’s infrastructure as a key settlement layer for real‑world payments across the continent.