Yellow Card discontinues retail companies, turns focus to companies

Yellow Card, the stablecoin funds startup working throughout 34 international locations, is discontinuing its retail companies to focus solely on enterprise purchasers in what it describes as a “strategic refocus” pushed by rising demand from enterprises.

The startup notified customers by way of electronic mail on October 29 to withdraw all funds from its app earlier than December 31, after which retail customers will not be capable to entry withdrawals. Accounts with zero balances had been despatched separate notices on November 1, informing them that these accounts could be deactivated the next day. 

For customers who miss the December 31 withdrawal deadline, Yellow Card mentioned it can lock unclaimed funds, which may later be accessed with proof of possession. From January 1, 2026, the startup will focus solely on its institutional-grade stablecoin infrastructure enterprise.

“Through the years, we’ve seen a drastic enhance in demand from companies looking for seamless cross-border funds and treasury administration,” John Colson, chief advertising officer at Yellow Card, instructed TechCabal. “This clear market sign gave us the conviction to make this strategic resolution.”

Based in Nigeria in 2019, Yellow Card has grown to change into one among Africa’s main digital asset infrastructure suppliers, supporting stablecoin transactions, fiat settlement rails, custody pockets companies, and native stablecoin issuance. The startup now operates throughout key rising markets, together with Brazil, India, Mexico, and China, in addition to monetary hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong.

Colson mentioned the choice to exit retail “isn’t a pivot away from its mission,” however relatively it’s doubling down on offering regulated, institutional-grade infrastructure that companies have to scale after seeing “rising demand” from that aspect of its enterprise.

The shift mirrors a wider business development amongst African crypto startups similar to Quidax and Busha, which have been betting on business-to-business (B2B) crypto cost rails to drive progress amid tighter regulation and risky retail exercise. Enterprise purchasers, not like retail merchants, are usually extra secure and predictable, transacting in bigger volumes that maintain platform liquidity and income.

“By focusing totally on our B2B Institutional Suite, we are able to deepen our core strengths, scale quicker, and ship the institutional-grade infrastructure that companies, and by extension, shoppers, depend on,” Colson mentioned. “It is usually price noting that a lot of our retail clients have already began transitioning to our treasury portal.”

Yellow Card has raised a complete funding of $88 million and now serves greater than 30,000 companies. In 2024, it processed over $3 billion in transactions, dominated by stablecoin transactions. The startup emphasised it stays financially sturdy and continues to develop, including that retail will “stay accessible in markets with sturdy retail demand” throughout the transition. Nonetheless, it didn’t title particular markets the place its retail companies will stay lively.

Yellow Card’s B2B enterprise spans stablecoin cost infrastructure, fiat settlement rails, custody pockets companies, and native stablecoin issuance, offering end-to-end monetary plumbing for companies in rising markets. 

The startup’s refocus has additionally been buoyed by its partnership with Visa in June, which enabled Yellow Card to increase its footprint past Africa into Latin America (LATAM) and Asia. With these expansions, Yellow Card now serves purchasers in 34 international locations, underscoring its ambition to change into the go-to stablecoin infrastructure supplier for companies working throughout frontier and rising markets.

Colson mentioned that the corporate’s evolution displays each alternative and maturity. 

“We’re merely evolving our enterprise mannequin to give attention to the B2B market, the place we see the best alternative to unravel important monetary challenges.”