Nigeria’s Daya taps Aptos to power Africa-Middle East stablecoin.

Nigeria's Daya Takes a Leap into the Future of Cross-Border Payments

In a major milestone for Nigeria's fintech landscape, Paul Joe, co-founder of Daya, a B2B stablecoin payments startup, is at the forefront of a pioneering initiative that promises to revolutionize cross-border transactions in Africa and the Middle East. Daya has partnered with Aptos Foundation and Dubai-based crypto exchange HashKey MENA to launch a pilot stablecoin settlement corridor, marking Aptos' latest push into the African market. The stakes are high for Paul Joe and his team, as they navigate the complexities of integrating stablecoins into the existing financial infrastructure.

The Numbers Behind Daya's Gamble

The partnership will enable businesses to convert local currencies into stablecoins, settle transactions on the Aptos blockchain, and receive funds in local currencies at the destination. The corridor will support bank transfers, virtual local-currency accounts, and payment application programming interfaces (APIs) that businesses and fintechs can integrate into their operations. With HashKey MENA providing regulated fiat on- and off-ramps in the Middle East, and Daya facilitating payment flows across African markets, including the Nigerian Naira and other local currencies, the potential for scalability is vast. The pilot is part of HashKey's Asia Connect network, which links payment corridors across Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, the UAE, and now Africa. This strategic move positions Daya as a key player in the African fintech space, leveraging the growing demand for stablecoin adoption on the continent.

Aptos' Play in Africa: A Strategic Move

Aptos' push into Africa is a calculated effort to tap into the growing market for cross-border payments infrastructure in emerging markets. Originally built in 2021 to power decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gaming, Aptos is increasingly positioning itself around cross-border payments infrastructure. This move follows a similar partnership with pan-African stablecoin payments startup Yellow Card in July 2025, which powered cross-border transactions in 20 African countries. By integrating with fintechs and payment providers that already serve businesses and consumers, networks such as Aptos gain access to real-world payment flows that can drive transaction volume, deepen liquidity, and strengthen network adoption. This strategy marks a significant shift in Aptos' focus, as it seeks to become a major player in the cross-border payments space.

Connecting the Dots: Stablecoin Adoption and Infrastructure

Paul Joe's assertion that Africa is already a front-runner in stablecoin adoption highlights the urgent need for regulated infrastructure and scalable liquidity to connect demand to the rest of the world. The partnership between Daya, Aptos, and HashKey MENA addresses this gap, providing a reliable and efficient means of settling transactions across borders. This development is part of a broader trend in Africa, where fintechs are increasingly turning to blockchain technology to build stablecoin infrastructure. Nigerian fintech Paga, for instance, partnered with Sui in May 2026 to build stablecoin infrastructure. As the demand for cross-border payments continues to grow, it is likely that we will see more partnerships and integrations in the African fintech space.

Forward Looking

In the coming months, we can expect to see Daya's partnership with Aptos and HashKey MENA bear fruit, as the pilot stablecoin settlement corridor begins to take shape. As more businesses and fintechs integrate into the corridor, we can expect to see a significant increase in cross-border transactions on the Aptos blockchain. This development will not only cement Daya's position as a key player in the African fintech space but also pave the way for further innovation in the cross-border payments infrastructure. With the stakes high for Paul Joe and his team, one thing is certain: Daya's gamble is set to revolutionize the way businesses conduct cross-border transactions in Africa and the Middle East.