How stablecoins are rapidly reshaping Africa's money sovereignty

THE recent 2025 Africa CEO Forum marked a turning point in digital finance discussions, as business and policy leaders highlighted the growing role of stablecoins and digital assets in shaping monetary sovereignty, cross-border trade and financial inclusion across the continent.

- ASHLEY LECHMAN

This was according to Gillian Darko, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at Yellow Card, who noted that while discussions at last year's Africa CEO Forum largely revolved around the speculative potential of blockchain, this year's event marked a decisive shift, from theoretical discourse to strategy-driven implementation.

"In previous years, conversations focused on blockchain's possibilities, but in 2025, the emphasis was on practical applications, particularly in the realms of stablecoins and AI. The discussion revealed that financial innovation, including digital currencies, is increasingly viewed as foundational to governance and public service delivery." she said.

This perspective was reinforced by Ghana's Minister of Communication, Samuel Nartey George, who emphasised that the future of governance must incorporate digital currencies and Al to enhance transparency and efficiency.

A tangible reality

Darko said that these sentiments resonated across the forum, reinforcing how digital tools have evolved from niche, frontier technologies to central economic instruments, underscoring the fact that stablecoins is not just a theoretical concept, but is already a tangible reality in countries like Nigeria and Ghana and other emerging markets in Africa.