Daya, Aptos, and HashKey MENA launch stablecoin payment corridor connecting Africa and the Middle East. African fintech startup Daya is partnering with Aptos Foundation and Dubai-based crypto exchange HashKey MENA to launch a stablecoin settlement corridor connecting Africa and the Middle East. The initiative aims to simplify cross-border payments for businesses by reducing costs, improving settlement speed, and expanding access to regulated digital payment infrastructure across emerging markets. Cross-border payments in emerging markets have long been plagued by high transaction fees, delayed settlement times, and dependence on correspondent banking systems. Now, Nigerian fintech startup Daya is seeking to change that narrative through a new partnership with Aptos Foundation and Dubai-based crypto exchange HashKey MENA. The three companies have launched a pilot stablecoin settlement corridor designed to connect businesses across Africa and the Middle East, creating a faster and more efficient infrastructure for international payments. Under the new partnership, businesses will be able to convert local currencies into stablecoins, settle transactions using the Aptos blockchain, and receive funds in local currencies at the destination point. The initiative combines blockchain settlement technology with regulated fiat payment systems to simplify cross-border commerce between the two regions. For Aptos, the partnership represents another strategic expansion into the African fintech ecosystem. Originally launched in 2021 as a Layer 1 blockchain focused on decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and gaming applications, Aptos is increasingly repositioning itself as a key infrastructure provider for global payment systems and emerging-market finance. In the pilot arrangement, HashKey MENA will provide regulated fiat on-ramp and off-ramp services across Middle Eastern markets, while Daya will manage payment distribution and local currency settlement across African countries, including support for the Nigerian Naira and other regional currencies. The corridor will also support bank transfers, virtual local-currency accounts, and payment APIs that fintechs and businesses can integrate directly into their operations. This infrastructure is expected to reduce friction in international payments while improving liquidity and transaction efficiency for businesses operating across borders. The project is also being integrated into HashKey's Asia Connect network, a growing payment corridor ecosystem spanning Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and now Africa. According to Paul Joe, co-founder of Daya, Africa already leads in stablecoin adoption, but the continent has lacked the regulated infrastructure necessary to connect local demand with global financial networks. "Africa is already a front-runner in stablecoin adoption. What's been missing is the regulated infrastructure and scalable liquidity to connect that demand to the rest of the world," Joe stated. The launch reflects a broader trend among blockchain companies increasingly partnering with fintech firms to access real-world payment flows and accelerate adoption. In recent years, several major blockchain networks have pursued similar strategies across Africa. In July 2025, Aptos partnered with pan-African payments startup Yellow Card to facilitate cross-border stablecoin transactions in over 20 African countries. Elsewhere, Flutterwave partnered with Polygon in late 2025 before expanding its blockchain settlement initiatives with Tempo. Nigerian fintech company Paga also entered the space through its partnership with Sui in May 2026 to develop stablecoin payment infrastructure. For blockchain networks, these partnerships serve as distribution channels that connect decentralized infrastructure with everyday financial activity. By integrating with fintech platforms already serving businesses and consumers, blockchain companies can drive transaction volume, deepen liquidity, and strengthen ecosystem adoption. Daya itself is one of the latest entrants into Africa's growing stablecoin payments sector. Founded in October 2025 by Tomiwa "Aleph" Lasebikan - a former co-founder of Y Combinator-backed crypto startup Helicarrier - alongside Paul Joe, the company focuses on building stablecoin-enabled payment infrastructure tailored for African businesses. The startup is backed by Alliance DAO, a New York-based crypto accelerator known for supporting early-stage blockchain ventures. Within the partnership, Aptos will function as the blockchain settlement layer powering transaction processing, while Daya and HashKey MENA will manage fiat integration and local payment distribution across their respective regions. Despite its growing ambitions, Aptos still trails some of the industry's largest blockchain networks in transaction activity. According to stablecoin analytics platform Artemis, Aptos currently has a market capitalization of approximately $568.7 million and processed about 7.9 million stablecoin transactions in the last 30 days. By comparison, networks such as Base, Binance Smart Chain (BNB), and Solana each recorded more than 100 million stablecoin transactions during the same period. Still, partnerships like this demonstrate how blockchain infrastructure providers are increasingly focusing on practical financial applications rather than speculative use cases alone. As stablecoins continue gaining traction in emerging markets, collaborations between fintech startups, blockchain networks, and regulated exchanges may play a significant role in reshaping the future of global payments - especially in regions where traditional banking systems remain expensive, slow, or inaccessible. The Daya-Aptos-HashKey MENA corridor could become an important test case for how stablecoin-powered payment networks evolve beyond crypto trading and into mainstream business operations across Africa and the Middle East.

Aptos Foundation, HashKey MENA and African payments platform Daya have launched a stablecoin payment corridor connecting the Middle East and Africa. The partnership aims to reduce cross-border transaction costs, which currently average 7.9% for Sub-Saharan Africa transfers, the world's highest. The system allows UAE companies to convert local currency into stablecoins through HashKey MENA, transfer them via the Aptos blockchain, and have Daya convert them into African currencies. Stablecoin activity on Aptos has surpassed $1.9 billion, up from $649 million in early 2025. Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, up 52% year-over-year. The corridor extends HashKey's Asia Connect network, which already connects Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam and the UAE.

Integration of Aptos in Vertalo for asset management. Reading time: 2 min May 29, 2026 Integration of compliance-focused Aptos technology into Vertalo for enhanced asset management solutions. Table of contents The integration of the blockchain platform Aptos into the Vertalo protocol marks a significant move towards the management of tokenized assets with regulatory compliance. This synergy can substantially change market dynamics, offering new tools for asset management that comply with current legislation. Integration details. Aptos is one of the leading blockchains focused on security and transaction speed. Their technology is integrated into the Vertalo Securities Protocol, allowing for more secure and regulatory-compliant solutions for asset management. Vertalo, in turn, specializes in asset tokenization, making them more transparent and manageable in accordance with regulatory requirements. Market significance. This integration can change the expectations of asset management platforms. Modern investors are increasingly looking for solutions that combine advanced blockchain technologies with assurances of legal compliance. This is important for attracting both institutional and private capital, providing greater reliability and transparency. Impact on future regulation. In the long term, such integrations may pressure regulators to update legislation in the area of tokenized assets. Modern technologies require the adaptation of old norms, and the partnership between Aptos and Vertalo could serve as a catalyst for such changes. Probable implications for participants. Users can expect more secure and legally compliant platforms for asset management. This may stimulate an increase in institutional investors as risks related to legal aspects are reduced. Conclusion. The merger of Aptos and Vertalo efforts is a significant step for the tokenized asset market. * Strengths: Increased regulatory compliance, transparency. * Risks: Possible delays in adapting new regulatory norms. * Opportunities: Expansion of institutional participation. * Threats: Inevitable competition with other platforms. No need to invent complex schemes and look for the "grail". Use the Resonance platform tools.