Africa Crypto News Week in Review: VALR Partners with Mukuru, Bitcoin ATMs Launch In Nairobi Malls, IOTA To Power Stablecoin Payment

In Africa crypto news this week, VALR, a leading digital asset exchange on the continent, is partnering with Mukuru to provide stablecoin payment infrastructure in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin ATMs have appeared at various malls in Kenya. This development comes weeks after the country enacted a landmark crypto legislation.

Globally, the IOTA Foundation is partnering with the World Economic Forum and the Blair Institute for continental stablecoin payments, including in Africa.

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Here’s a more detailed look at these stories:

South Africa Crypto News: VALR Partners With Mukuru

One of South Africa’s largest crypto exchanges, VALR, is partnering with Mukuru to expand USDC stablecoin payments.

Mukuru is a notable financial services platform with over 17M customers across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

VALR will introduce a USDC wallet and utilize Mukuru’s infrastructure to facilitate broader stablecoin adoption among its users.

VALR and Mukuru will let 17M+ users access USDC via WhatsApp, tapping Africa's strong stablecoin use (43% of crypto volume). VALR's regulatory licenses should build trust – this could make dollar-backed crypto savings more accessible and useful for many Africans.

— Nifty (@nifty0x) November 17, 2025

The exchange aims to offer a regulatory-compliant product amid heightened interest in crypto within both local and international markets.

VALR obtained an Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider license from regulators in October and aims to maximize the possibilities for its users.

Farzam Ehsani, the CEO, stated that the partnership is a “profound” step in their quest to promote financial inclusion.

“VALR is proud to support Mukuru with the crypto infrastructure needed to launch this offering. This partnership is a profound step toward realizing our shared vision of an inclusive financial ecosystem that unites humanity, advancing financial services in society.”

USDC is a top stablecoin and serves as a denominator in billions of dollars worth of crypto transactions every day. It can provide a valuable store of value for users keen to avoid the volatility seen even in 100X cryptos and fragile national currencies.

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Kenya Crypto News: Bitcoin ATMS Launch In Major Malls

Bitcoin ATMs have been spotted at major Kenyan malls shortly after the country passed a landmark crypto legislation.

There are reports of new ATMs at major malls, such as Two Rivers Mall, located just outside Nairobi, and similar outlets in the Westlands and Ngong Road areas of Nairobi.

Kenya’s first Bitcoin ATM has now opened at Two Rivers Mall, next to the NCBA ATM.

It allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin worth up to Sh10,000 without KYC.

— Moe (@moneyacademyKE) November 17, 2025

The Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASP) Act came into force on November 4, after passing through parliament and receiving presidential assent.

This legislation was an attempt by authorities to regulate crypto operations within the country. Service providers now have elaborate licensing and reporting frameworks, particularly for exchanges.

Bitcoin ATMs straddle a regulatory tightrope because of the cash aspect of such transactions.

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Africa Crypto News: IOTA To Roll Out ADAPT Initiative

The IOTA Foundation is joining hands with the World Economic Forum and the Blair Institute to implement the Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade (ADAPT) initiative across the continent.

ADAPT will operate as a borderless framework for stablecoin payments and trades across the continent.

The initiative has also conducted pilot programs in Kenya and Rwanda, to expand to all African countries by 2035.

Africa is ripe for disruption by convenient solutions that offer low cost and instantaneous transactions on the continent. A slight cause for concern is that this initiative is not African-led and would continue the trend of external capital and bodies shaping events on the continent.

Nonetheless, to the extent that it can make commerce more convenient, it could be a positive development.

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