Small and medium enterprises across Africa face critical financial infrastructure challenges that limit their growth potential. Cross-border transactions are expensive and slow, often taking days to settle while incurring huge fees. Local currency volatility erodes business capital and makes international trade planning nearly impossible. Traditional banking systems exclude many SMEs from accessing global markets and capital, creating barriers to expansion and competitiveness in the digital economy.
This session will chart a bold vision for the future of SME finance, showcasing how stablecoins can become the cornerstone of financial innovation and inclusion across Africa. We will explore forward-looking use cases—from seamless cross-border payments and real-time settlements to access to global capital and protection against local currency volatility—that position stablecoins as essential tools for SME growth and competitiveness in an increasingly connected marketplace.
