Yellow Card

Yellow Card operates as a financial infrastructure provider focused on stablecoin payment orchestration for businesses in emerging markets. Founded in 2016 by Chris Maurice and Justin Poiroux, the company initially launched its operations in Nigeria in 2019, targeting retail customers. The founders' journey began with the vision to introduce bitcoin to Africa after witnessing the high fees associated with traditional international money transfers. Chris Maurice, CEO, began his entrepreneurial path early, selling items like Pokémon cards online to pay for his college education in finance, a background he credits with teaching him business fundamentals. His partner, Justin Poiroux, introduced him to cryptocurrency.

The firm has since pivoted from a retail-focused model to concentrate on business-to-business (B2B) services, a strategic shift driven by higher demand and profitability in the enterprise segment. This move was supported by significant funding, including a $15 million Series A in 2021, a $40 million Series B in 2023, and a $33 million Series C in 2024, bringing its total equity financing to at least $88 million. Investors include prominent names like Blockchain Capital, Polychain Capital, and Coinbase Ventures.

Yellow Card's core business involves providing the infrastructure for companies to conduct international payments, manage treasury operations, and access USD liquidity using stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, and PYUSD. It serves a diverse clientele including banks, financial institutions, importers/exporters, and other fintech companies. Revenue is generated by facilitating these transactions, which have seen substantial growth, with transaction volumes surpassing $3 billion. The company's Payments API allows businesses to embed a seamless payment system directly into their platforms, enabling customers to make deposits and withdrawals in their local currencies. This service helps businesses expand their reach across the African continent and other emerging markets, while also offering protection against local currency inflation and volatility by allowing them to hold funds in stablecoins.

Operating in over 20 countries, Yellow Card has become a licensed stablecoin on/off-ramp in Africa. The company has secured partnerships with major financial players like Coinbase and Visa to enhance its service offerings, such as enabling easier access to USDC for Coinbase wallet users in Africa and expanding Visa's stablecoin settlement solutions. The company also prioritizes regulatory engagement and financial literacy, having obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider license in Botswana and offering educational resources through its Yellow Card Academy.

Keywords: stablecoin infrastructure, B2B payments, cross-border transactions, emerging markets finance, treasury management, USD liquidity, cryptocurrency exchange, financial inclusion Africa, API payments, fiat on-ramp, fiat off-ramp, digital assets, Pan-African fintech, Chris Maurice, Justin Poiroux, Blockchain Capital, Polychain Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Series C funding, regulatory compliance, international trade finance