Connecting to the Global Economy: How Stablecoins Are Solving Real African Problems

Connecting to the Global Economy: How Stablecoins Are Solving Real African Problems panel session with Kirill Gertman, Founder & CEO at Conduit, Moyo Sodipo, Co-Founder & COO at Busha, Ebenezer Ghanney, CEO at WeWire Africa, Apollo Sande, Country Manager at Luno Kenya and Sarah Idahosa, Moderator and Partnership Manager at MANSA.

Panelists dig into why stablecoins are becoming real infrastructure for African businesses trying to connect with the global economy, not just another crypto speculation story. Traditional cross-border payments in Africa often route through US correspondent banks – even between two African countries – creating delays, high costs, and compliance friction. Stablecoins bypass that entirely, letting businesses hold a single USDC/USDT balance to pay international suppliers and local vendors instantly, at a fraction of bank fees, while blockchain’s built-in traceability actually makes transactions easier for regulators to audit than opaque fiat flows.

The panel is clear that adoption isn’t just a technology problem – it depends on education and collaborative regulation, since many policymakers still lack a nuanced understanding of how stablecoins work. Their vision for the next 3-5 years: stablecoins fading into the background of everyday African life, much like nobody thinks about the internet when streaming video, with local-currency-backed stablecoins reducing FX risk and fintechs, banks, and regulators working together rather than competing.

Highlights include
🌍 African cross-border payments routinely route through US correspondent banks even between two African countries, adding delay, cost, and compliance friction.
🔄 Stablecoins let businesses swap currencies directly across borders, bypassing correspondent banking entirely.
⚡ Merchants can hold a single USDC/USDT balance to pay international and local vendors instantly, at a fraction of traditional bank fees.
🔍 Blockchain-based stablecoin transactions are fully traceable, making them easier for regulators to audit than opaque fiat flows.
🎓 Industry-led education for policymakers is seen as essential to building regulation that enables innovation instead of blocking it.
💡 Success in 3-5 years looks like invisible stablecoins — used for purchases, payroll, and remittances without users thinking about the underlying tech.
🌱 Local-currency-backed stablecoins are expected to grow alongside dollar-backed ones, reducing FX risk and enabling 24/7 liquidity.

Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026 celebrated its 8th edition on February 11th and 12th at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. Bringing together leading industry players the summit explored the latest trends and insights in technology and business across Africa and beyond.

From keynotes to dynamic panel discussions, the summit explored groundbreaking topics across four flagship tracks: the Africa Money & DeFi Summit, Africa Climate Tech & Investment Summit, Africa Startup Summit, and Africa AI & Digital Summit. Attendees immersed themselves in the latest trends, shared ideas, and discovered cutting-edge innovations that are redefining Africa’s tech landscape.