Africa’s Financial Future and the Role of Stablecoins (Lessons from Oneremit at CAFS 2025)

At Oneremit, we believe the future of trade is borderless. For too long, African businesses, students, and families have faced unnecessary friction when trying to move money across borders.

Transfers that should be simple are often expensive, slow, and uncertain. This has held back countless opportunities.

That’s why we exist. Our mission has always been clear: to make cross-border finance accessible, fast, and transparent for the people and businesses that need it most.

Recently, we had the privilege of sharing this vision on a global stage. At the Canada-Africa Fintech Summit (CAFS) 2025 in Toronto, our CEO, Hammed Adewumi Afenifere, spoke about how stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments and creating real-world impact for Africa.

He highlighted what we see every day in our work, that stable digital currencies are no longer abstract technology. They are practical tools already helping African SMEs, families, and students bypass outdated systems and connect with the world.

“We’ve seen firsthand how stablecoins help African businesses and families send and receive money with speed and reliability,” our CEO shared during the summit. “This is about giving people access in ways traditional banking has often struggled to deliver.”

Our approach at Oneremit goes beyond technology. We’ve built our payment rails with trust, transparency, and regulatory alignment at the core, because we understand that lasting innovation must benefit users, institutions, and governments alike. Stablecoins will only reach their full potential if they are safe, inclusive, and scalable and we’re committed to leading that change responsibly.

One message we carried to Toronto and that resonated deeply with the audience is that Africa’s future in global trade depends on its small businesses.

Every day we see their stories. Different needs, same challenge: the uphill battle of sending payments across borders. Our goal is to rewrite that story by giving SMEs and families the freedom to trade, learn, and grow without outdated barriers.

The timing has never more critical. Canada is expanding its Africa strategy, and Africa is home to a new generation of entrepreneurs ready to connect with global opportunities. At CAFS 2025, we reaffirmed our commitment to being that bridge between ambition and opportunity.

For us, cross-border payments are not just transactions. They are enablers of possibility. When SMEs can move money easily and securely, they create jobs, build partnerships, and strengthen Africa’s place in the global economy.

As our CEO emphasized in Toronto, stablecoins are not the future, they are the present. And when designed with trust and collaboration at the center, they can unlock Africa’s economic potential and connect us more closely with partners across the world.

At Oneremit, we’re ready. And so are the communities we serve.