AI and stablecoins: African treasurers urged to take a still-blurry revolution seriously

In a continent where cross-border payments remain slow and costly, and where currency volatility weighs on corporate cash management, artificial intelligence and stablecoins are gradually emerging as operational tools rather than mere technological curiosities. This shift comes as finance departments face mounting pressure to gain efficiency and accelerate international flows. The source article, published by African Business on July 28, 2026 as partner content, states that these technologies "are rapidly moving from emerging innovations to practical treasury tools" and that the question is no longer whether treasurers should engage with them, but how to adopt them "responsibly." No figures, company names, or studies are cited. For African treasurers facing high transaction costs, these tools promise to reduce frictions in intra-African trade. However, the lack of a harmonized regulatory framework for stablecoins in many jurisdictions remains a major obstacle. The very format of this text, devoid of numerical data or concrete cases, illustrates the gap between promotional discourse and operational reality. With over 40 currencies on the continent, the efficiency argument is relevant, but only rigorous governance and interoperability with systems like PAPSS will fulfill the promise.