MiniPay, the mobile payment application built on the Celo blockchain, has launched a Visa debit card that allows users to spend stablecoins at merchants globally, marking a significant step in bridging cryptocurrency and everyday payments across Africa.
The card, which is now available to MiniPay users, enables spending at millions of Visa-accepting merchants worldwide. Users can fund the card directly from their stablecoin balances within the MiniPay app, eliminating the need to convert digital assets to local currency before making purchases.
MiniPay is operated by Opera, the Norwegian browser company that has invested heavily in African mobile technology. The wallet launched in 2023 and has focused primarily on markets in sub-Saharan Africa, where it has positioned itself as a remittance and payments solution for users with limited access to traditional banking services.
How the card works
The Visa debit card connects to users’ MiniPay wallets, which hold stablecoins including cUSD and USDC on the Celo blockchain. When a user makes a purchase, the stablecoin is converted to local fiat currency at the point of sale, with the transaction processed through the Visa network.
The card is available as both a physical card and a virtual card for online purchases. MiniPay has not disclosed specific fees for card issuance, currency conversion, or transaction processing.
The launch comes as mobile money and digital payments continue to expand rapidly across Africa, with stablecoins increasingly seen as a tool for cross-border payments and remittances. However, the use of cryptocurrency-linked payment cards has faced regulatory scrutiny in several African countries, particularly around foreign exchange controls and anti-money laundering compliance.
Africa has seen growing adoption of stablecoins, particularly for remittances and payments, as users seek alternatives to expensive traditional money transfer services and volatile local currencies. Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana have emerged as key markets for cryptocurrency adoption, though regulatory approaches vary significantly across the continent.
In Nigeria, the Central Bank has maintained restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions through traditional banks, though peer-to-peer crypto trading remains active. Kenya has taken a more cautious approach, with its Capital Markets Authority proposing regulatory frameworks for digital assets. South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority is developing comprehensive crypto asset regulations expected to take effect in 2025.
The success of MiniPay’s Visa card will depend partly on how regulators in key markets respond to the product. Payment cards linked to cryptocurrency wallets have been banned or restricted in some jurisdictions, often due to concerns about capital flight and foreign exchange management.
Competition in the space
MiniPay joins a small but growing number of services offering cryptocurrency-linked debit cards in emerging markets. Chipper Cash, BitPesa (now AZA Finance), and other African fintech companies have explored similar products, though regulatory challenges have limited widespread adoption.
The Celo blockchain, on which MiniPay is built, has positioned itself as a mobile-first platform designed for payments in emerging markets. The network uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and offers low transaction fees, which its developers say makes it suitable for everyday payments.
MiniPay did not disclose how many users have signed up for the card or which African countries will have access to the physical card product. The company also did not provide details on partnerships with local banks or financial institutions that may be required for card issuance and compliance in different markets.
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