Africa-focused stablecoin infrastructure provider, Yellow Card has secured a regulatory anti-money laundering (AML) affiliation in Switzerland, marking a significant milestone in its strategy to become a leading provider of regulated stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises operating across emerging markets.
The approval allows the company to offer regulated virtual asset-related services through a supervised Swiss entity, providing institutional clients with a compliant gateway into Yellow Card’s growing payments and settlement network spanning Africa, Latin America, the United States and other emerging markets.
For Yellow Card, the Swiss approval represents more than a regulatory achievement. It signals the company’s growing ambition to position itself at the centre of the emerging stablecoin economy.
“Stablecoins have become critical infrastructure for global institutions, and compliant access to the rails and payments is a requirement for companies looking to utilise this technology,” Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card, said. “Our Swiss subsidiary gives them a regulated, supervised counterparty for accessing our global Stablecoin infrastructure.”
What you need to know
The regulatory milestone follows a major strategic shift announced by Yellow Card earlier this year.
Seven months ago, the company exited its retail cryptocurrency trading business to focus exclusively on business-to-business infrastructure services.
At the time, the move surprised some observers, particularly given Yellow Card’s position as one of Africa’s most recognised cryptocurrency brands.
However, the company argued that demand from enterprises using stablecoins for treasury management, cross-border payments and settlement services was growing significantly faster than retail trading activity. That bet appears to be paying off.
Since pivoting towards institutional infrastructure, Yellow Card has expanded its enterprise offerings through partnerships with major global payments companies including Visa, Mastercard, Western Union, Thunes and MoneyGram.
The company’s infrastructure now enables businesses to move value across multiple jurisdictions using stablecoins while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
Why Switzerland matters
Switzerland has emerged as one of the world’s most respected jurisdictions for digital asset regulation.
Its regulatory framework has attracted hundreds of blockchain, cryptocurrency and fintech firms seeking legal certainty and access to sophisticated financial markets.
The country has spent years building a reputation as a hub for digital asset innovation, balancing regulatory oversight with support for emerging financial technologies.
For companies like Yellow Card, a Swiss presence offers a level of credibility and regulatory assurance that is particularly attractive to multinational corporations, financial institutions and institutional investors.
Maurice said clients accessing the Swiss entity will be able to utilise Yellow Card’s payments and settlement network across Africa, Latin America and other emerging markets through a regulated framework.
The company believes this will help remove a key barrier preventing many institutions from adopting stablecoin-based payment systems at scale.
“Switzerland holds financial intermediaries to one of the highest regulatory standards in the world, and our Swiss subsidiary was built to meet these standards,” said Craig Stoehr, General Counsel of Yellow Card. “Combined with the licenced infrastructure already in place across our global network, this standard provides our partners a rare combination of regulatory confidence and real operational reach.”
Lugano emerges as a global blockchain hub
Yellow Card’s Swiss expansion will be anchored in Lugano, a city that has become increasingly influential within the global blockchain ecosystem.
The company has confirmed plans to establish a permanent presence in the city, where its Swiss operations will be led by Olpha Bribech, a French lawyer and member of Yellow Card’s senior leadership team.
Lugano has spent the last several years positioning itself as a leading destination for blockchain innovation.
The city partnered with stablecoin issuer Tether under the Plan ₿ initiative, a programme designed to integrate digital asset technologies into local financial infrastructure and attract blockchain-focused investment.
In 2025, Lugano also completed its fourth blockchain bond issuance, raising CHF100 million ($123 million), further reinforcing its reputation as one of Europe’s most active digital finance centres.
By locating its Swiss operations in Lugano, Yellow Card is aligning itself with a growing ecosystem of digital asset firms, regulators and institutional investors.
Stablecoins gain momentum globally
Yellow Card’s latest move reflects broader changes taking place across the global payments industry.
Stablecoins have become one of the fastest-growing segments of digital finance, with transaction volumes reaching trillions of dollars annually.
Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, stablecoins are designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to assets such as the US dollar.
Their relative stability has made them increasingly attractive for cross-border transactions, remittances, treasury operations and settlement services.
Across emerging markets, stablecoins are gaining particular traction because they offer businesses an alternative to expensive correspondent banking networks and often slow international payment systems.
For African businesses, stablecoins have increasingly become a tool for managing foreign exchange challenges, facilitating international trade and improving settlement efficiency.
Yellow Card has been one of the most active companies building infrastructure around this trend.
Founded in 2016, the company now operates across more than 50 emerging markets and has established itself as one of the continent’s largest stablecoin-focused financial infrastructure providers.
Building a global regulatory network
Yellow Card’s Swiss approval adds to a growing portfolio of regulatory licences and authorisations across multiple jurisdictions.
The company already holds regulatory approvals across Africa, including a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence in Botswana.
According to Yellow Card, expanding its regulatory footprint remains a key strategic priority as demand for compliant stablecoin infrastructure continues to increase.
For Yellow Card, securing a foothold in one of the world’s most respected financial jurisdictions could strengthen its position as institutions increasingly look for regulated pathways into the fast-growing stablecoin economy.
Industry leaders say the company’s latest expansion suggests that while cryptocurrency trading may have driven the industry’s first phase of growth, the next chapter could be defined by infrastructure, compliance and enterprise adoption.
Talking Points
It is noteworthy that Yellow Card has secured a regulatory AML affiliation in Switzerland, one of the world’s most respected financial jurisdictions. At a time when stablecoins are moving from speculative assets to payment infrastructure, regulatory credibility is becoming a competitive advantage.
The approval strengthens Yellow Card’s position as one of Africa’s leading stablecoin infrastructure providers and reflects the growing demand from institutions seeking compliant ways to move capital across borders.
At Techparley, we see this as part of a broader shift taking place across global finance. Stablecoins are increasingly being adopted for treasury management, settlements, remittances, and international trade, particularly in emerging markets where traditional payment systems can be costly and inefficient.
Yellow Card’s decision to focus on business-to-business infrastructure rather than retail trading also appears strategically timed. Enterprise demand for regulated digital payment rails is growing rapidly, and the company’s partnerships with global players such as Visa, Mastercard, Western Union, Thunes, and MoneyGram position it well to benefit from that trend.
As the company builds its presence in Switzerland and strengthens its global regulatory footprint, we see an opportunity for Yellow Card to play a larger role in connecting Africa’s financial ecosystem with global capital markets. If executed effectively, its infrastructure could help accelerate cross-border commerce and improve access to digital financial services across emerging economies.
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