African payment giant Flutterwave taps Polygon blockchain for cross-border payments

• Flutterwave has partnered with Polygon to enable fast, low-cost stablecoin payments.
• Pilot is scheduled to start before the end of 2025, expanding to consumers via the Send App in 2026.
• Verified merchants will benefit first, ensuring compliance and smooth adoption.

Flutterwave, one of Africa’s largest financial infrastructure providers, has announced a partnership with Polygon Labs to leverage blockchain technology for cross-border payments.

Stablecoins at the heart of the partnership

Under the multi-year collaboration, Polygon will become Flutterwave’s default blockchain network, powering a new cross-border payments product designed around stablecoins.

These digital currencies, pegged to traditional fiat currencies like the US dollar, are expected to streamline international payments by reducing the inefficiencies that have long plagued Africa’s $2 trillion cross-border market.

For many businesses, settlement can take several days, and fees often exceed 8%, creating significant operational challenges.

Flutterwave plans to pilot the new system in 2025 with a select group of verified merchants, before rolling it out more broadly to enterprises and consumers through its Send App in 2026.

The initial rollout will prioritise global corporations such as Uber and Audiomack, which already rely on Flutterwave’s existing payment infrastructure, while subsequent phases aim to bring the benefits of blockchain-powered stablecoins to millions of everyday users.

The partnership also positions Africa alongside other regions where Polygon is already enabling major fintech innovations, including Europe and Asia.

With over a hundred fintech companies globally using Polygon to move money efficiently, Flutterwave’s adoption of the network demonstrates the continent’s growing embrace of blockchain technology for real-world commerce.

For Flutterwave, this initiative represents more than a technological upgrade; it aligns with the company’s broader mission to simplify international payments for African businesses.

CEO Olugbenga “GB” Agboola explained that by making cross-border transactions faster, cheaper, and more accessible, the collaboration sets a new standard for financial inclusion while providing a scalable solution for global commerce.

Faster, cheaper cross-border payments

By integrating Polygon’s high-performance blockchain, Flutterwave aims to cut both costs and settlement times dramatically.

Transaction fees on Polygon are typically fractions of a cent, and settlements can occur in near real-time.

Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, highlighted the significance of this development, noting that stablecoins on Polygon can transform settlement periods from days into seconds and reduce fees from percentages into mere pennies.

This partnership not only reduces operational friction but also strengthens financial inclusion by making cross-border payments affordable and reliable.

For small merchants in Lagos, Nairobi, or Johannesburg, as well as individuals sending remittances, the technology promises to make previously cumbersome financial processes simpler and faster.

Regulatory compliance

Flutterwave is taking a cautious approach to regulatory compliance, initially limiting the stablecoin service to verified merchants who meet enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) standards.

Vincent Yang, Flutterwave’s Senior Product Manager for Stablecoins and Cryptocurrency, emphasised that the company is working closely with regulators to ensure that the service launches only in markets with appropriate regulatory support.

The integration is designed to be seamless for merchants, requiring no technical changes to Flutterwave’s existing API.

This approach allows businesses to access the new payment options without disruption, embedding blockchain capabilities into familiar systems rather than replacing them entirely.

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