HashKey and Aptos Formed Middle East-Africa Payment Corridor
The partners signed an agreement on June 4, 2026, to use stablecoins to facilitate business-to-business transactions.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Middle East
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HashKey MENA and the Aptos Foundation launched a initiative to build a regulated payment corridor between the Middle East and Africa. Formalized on June 4, 2026, the project leverages stablecoin settlement to reduce high remittance costs.
Why it matters
The initiative addresses significant liquidity constraints and high remittance costs in local currencies. By utilizing stablecoin technology, the partners aim to streamline business-to-business transactions between the two regions.
Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, marking a 52% increase from the prior period. A 2026 survey of 4,658 people indicated that 79% of respondents held stablecoins.
The players
HashKey MENA
This firm operates as a virtual asset service provider and holds a license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
Aptos Foundation
The foundation supports the development of the Aptos blockchain network used for stablecoin settlement.
Daya
This company provides payment infrastructure and local-currency accounts for routing transactions within Africa.
The details
The infrastructure utilizes Gulf fiat on-ramps and the Aptos blockchain for settlement, with Daya providing the necessary payment routing and local-currency account access in African markets. The pilot focuses on establishing a reliable B2B payment flow that simplifies international transfers.
Timeline
The average cost for a $200 remittance was 7.9% as of Q4 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa received $205 billion in on-chain value from July 2024 to June 2025.
HashKey MENA signed the Corridor Pilot Agreement on June 4, 2026.
A 2026 survey assessed stablecoin usage among 4,658 respondents.
Travel Outlook
This payment corridor follows the trend established by the $205 billion in on-chain value received in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2024 and 2025. It reflects a broader shift toward integrating blockchain-based settlements into regional tourism and business logistics.
Business travelers and investors managing regional operations may eventually benefit from lower transfer fees and faster settlement times. Monitoring the expansion of this corridor into local Nigerian markets provides insight into future payment reliability for the region.
The takeaway
Blockchain infrastructure is increasingly being used to solve practical friction points in international business finance. Travelers and businesses should expect faster settlement options as these stablecoin corridors continue to expand across developing markets.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest economic developments in the Middle East.
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