Esca Finance taps Tether-backed MANSA for same-day African payment settlements

Esca Finance has partnered with MANSA, a Tether-backed stablecoin settlement provider, to enable same-day settlements across key African payment corridors. This move is expected to revolutionize the way payments are processed across the continent, providing a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional banking systems.

What Happened

Esca Finance, a Nigerian-founded foreign exchange (FX) sourcing and treasury management startup, has partnered with MANSA to enable same-day settlements across key African payment corridors, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone West and Central African markets. The partnership combines Esca's FX, banking, and local payout infrastructure with MANSA's stablecoin-backed settlement rails, allowing payment companies and remittance providers to complete transactions faster without tying up capital across multiple markets.

Inside the Rollout

The partnership will enable Esca's customers to move money across Nigerian, Ghanaian, XAF, and XOF corridors with same-day settlement, rather than waiting for funds to move through traditional banking networks. This is a significant development for businesses operating in Africa, where traditional correspondent banking systems can be slow and costly. Stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure has emerged as an option for cross-border money movement while improving access to dollar liquidity.

• Stablecoin provider: MANSA
• Total corridors: Nigeria, Ghana, XAF, and XOF
• Settlement speed: same-day

Why It Matters

This partnership is a significant step towards modernizing Africa's payment infrastructure. Esca Finance has built deep capabilities in local execution and banking relationships across African markets, while MANSA provides the settlement liquidity layer. The deal supports Esca's broader expansion across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The company said it is already live through partner rails in 12 countries, including Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Takeaway

The partnership between Esca Finance and MANSA is expected to have a significant impact on the way payments are processed across Africa. By providing a faster and more efficient alternative to traditional banking systems, the partnership will enable businesses to scale more efficiently and expand into new markets. As Africa's payment infrastructure continues to evolve, partnerships like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of cross-border payments.