Move strengthens cross-border settlement strategy and merchant payment flexibility
Flutterwave is intensifying its bet on digital assets, announcing a partnership with blockchain infrastructure firm Turnkey and AI-powered global banking platform Nuvion to roll out stablecoin balances for merchants and users across its payments platform.
The rollout allows Flutterwave customers to hold, send, and receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT, alongside fiat currencies including the US dollar ($) and the naira (₦). These transactions will be processed directly through embedded wallets integrated into Flutterwave’s products, removing the need for external crypto platforms.
The company says the move is part of a deliberate effort to make stablecoins a central component of Africa’s financial infrastructure, particularly for businesses engaged in cross-border trade that face delays, high fees, and currency friction under traditional settlement systems.
“To accelerate business growth in Africa, we must make it safe, easy, and affordable for businesses to accept all forms of regulated payment methods, including stablecoin, from a global customer base,” said Nkem Abuah, Lead for Remittances & Stablecoin Partnerships at Flutterwave.
Flutterwave’s latest launch underscores its broader strategy to reduce reliance on legacy banking rails by embedding stablecoins deeper into its payments stack. In October 2025, the company partnered with Polygon Labs, naming Polygon as its default network for cross-border stablecoin settlements.
The partnership follows Flutterwave’s acquisition of Nigerian open banking startup Mono in 2025 and strengthens its end-to-end control over payments infrastructure. By internalising more of its transaction and settlement layers, Flutterwave is positioning itself to offer faster, cheaper, and more predictable payment flows for merchants.
Access to the stablecoin wallet feature will initially be limited to a select group of merchants, with a phased rollout planned for Flutterwave’s wider merchant base later in the year.
Under the arrangement, Turnkey will deliver the wallet infrastructure and security framework powering Flutterwave’s embedded stablecoin wallets, while Nuvion will bridge fiat and stablecoin rails using its AI-driven platform. Flutterwave said the integration provides a verifiable, secure, and programmable wallet system for merchants operating across multiple currencies.
“We share Flutterwave’s belief that stablecoins offer an incredibly efficient way to accelerate payments and put more money directly into the hands of business owners rather than intermediaries,” said Bryce Ferguson, CEO and cofounder of Turnkey.
Flutterwave now joins a growing list of payments and crypto-native companies, including Polymarket, Axiom, and Alchemy, that use Turnkey’s blockchain infrastructure. The integration comes shortly after Turnkey raised $30 million in a Series B funding round in June 2025 to support team expansion.
