In a major move toward the “next wave” of African digital finance, Flutterwave has officially announced the launch of stablecoin balances for its merchants and users. This integration, confirmed on Friday, January 23, 2026, allows businesses to hold, receive, and send USDC and USDT alongside traditional fiat currencies like the Naira (NGN) and US Dollar (USD).
The initiative is part of Flutterwave’s strategy to bypass the high costs and slow settlement times of legacy banking systems, leveraging blockchain for “always-on” global connectivity.
The Tech Partners: Nuvion & Turnkey
Flutterwave has collaborated with two major global infrastructure providers to power this rollout:
- Turnkey: Provides the verifiable blockchain infrastructure and “embedded wallets,” ensuring that transactions are secure and private. Turnkey was recently named one of the 2025 CNBC World’s Top Fintech Companies.
- Nuvion: An AI-powered banking platform that bridges the gap between fiat and stablecoin systems, managing the complex “plumbing” of global banking regulations.
How It Works for Merchants
The feature is currently in a phased rollout, being tested with a select group of high-volume merchants before expanding to the general user base later in 2026.
| Feature | Details |
| Supported Assets | USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin). |
| Network | Primary support for the Polygon network (for sub-$0.01 fees). |
| Capabilities | Convert NGN/USD to Stablecoins; Payout to external wallets; P2P transfers. |
| Fee Structure | 1.5% for On/Off-ramping; $1.50 for external transfers; Free for Flutterwave-to-Flutterwave P2P. |
| Eligibility | Requires full KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. |
The “Why” Behind the Bet
Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga “GB” Agboola has emphasized that stablecoins are the “logical next step” for Africa’s youth-led digital economy.
- Speed: Transfers that previously took 3–5 business days via SWIFT can now be completed in seconds.
- Liquidity: Helps businesses hedge against local currency volatility and dollar shortages.
- Cost: Bypasses multiple intermediary banks, putting more money directly into the hands of business owners.
Important Note: While you can hold and convert stablecoins, settlement in stablecoins (receiving daily sales directly in USDT/C) is listed as “Coming Soon” and is not yet active for all users.
