6 African DeFi and Crypto Projects to Watch as Blockchain Adoption Grows
From payments and stablecoins to cross-border transfers and asset tokenization, these projects show how DeFi is solving real financial gaps across Africa.
Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for crypto, blockchain, and decentralized finance (DeFi). In many countries, traditional banks still don’t reach everyone, particularly people without reliable access to formal banking services. That gap is why DeFi and blockchain projects are gaining traction across the continent.
By offering new ways to send money, borrow, lend, and store value without relying on traditional banks, these platforms are reshaping how financial services work. For millions of people, they promise faster transactions, lower costs, and more inclusive access to finance.
Here are some African DeFi and crypto projects worth watching:
David Adubiina
/1. Yellow Card
Yellow Card is a crypto platform that helps people buy, sell, and use stablecoins and other digital assets across many African countries. It focuses on making crypto practical, especially in places where local currencies can lose value quickly because of inflation.
By allowing users to convert local money into stablecoins, Yellow Card helps individuals and businesses protect their money and move funds more easily. Its platform supports everyday use cases like payments, savings, and cross-border transfers, often at lower costs than traditional banks. With operations in multiple African markets, Yellow Card plays a key role in helping people access more stable digital money and participate in the global financial system.
/2. VALR
VALR is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in South Africa. It allows users to buy, sell, store, and trade many cryptocurrencies using local currency. This makes crypto easier to access for everyday users and businesses.
Beyond trading, VALR also offers features like staking, which lets users earn rewards by holding certain digital assets. A key reason VALR stands out is its strong focus on transparency and compliance. As crypto rules continue to develop across Africa, platforms that take regulation seriously are more likely to grow and gain trust. VALR helps bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto in a way that feels safer and more structured.
/3. Zone (formerly Appzone)
Zone is building blockchain payment infrastructure that connects banks, fintech companies, merchants, and payment providers. Instead of focusing on crypto trading, Zone uses blockchain in the background to make payments faster, cheaper, and easier to reconcile.
What makes Zone important is how it works alongside existing financial systems rather than replacing them. Businesses can continue using familiar payment methods while benefiting from blockchain efficiency. This approach helps modernize payment systems in Nigeria and beyond, showing how DeFi ideas can quietly improve everyday transactions.
/4. AZA Finance (formerly BitPesa)
AZA Finance focuses on cross-border payments and foreign exchange, areas where Africa faces major challenges. Sending money across African borders is often slow, expensive, and complex. AZA Finance uses digital assets and smart payment rails to reduce costs and speed up transfers.
The company has been operating for over a decade, giving it deep experience in African markets. Today, it supports businesses and institutions that need reliable ways to move money between Africa and the rest of the world. Its work shows how blockchain can improve trade, remittances, and global financial connections.
/5. Mazzuma
Mazzuma is a Ghana-based fintech company that combines blockchain, mobile payments, and smart technology. It works with mobile networks and merchants to help users send money and make payments without relying on traditional banks.
This is especially important in regions where mobile money is more common than bank accounts. By fitting into existing habits, Mazzuma makes digital finance easier to use and understand. It shows how DeFi can support financial access by meeting people where they already are.
/6. Ubuntu Tribe
Ubuntu Tribe focuses on connecting real-world assets to blockchain technology. It works on tokenizing assets like gold, allowing people to hold digital tokens backed by physical resources.
This approach moves beyond speculation and helps build trust in digital assets. By offering gold-backed tokens that can be owned in small amounts, Ubuntu Tribe opens access to asset-based finance for more people. It also highlights how blockchain can support long-term value storage, not just trading.
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Conclusion
African DeFi and crypto projects are proving that blockchain can be useful in everyday life. From payments and remittances to asset ownership and financial access, these companies focus on real needs rather than speculation.
As internet access and mobile usage continue to grow, projects like these could shape the future of finance across Africa. Watching how they develop helps explain where DeFi is going next, and how it can create real impact for people and businesses on the continent.
