Африка возглавила мир по спредам при обмене стейблкоинов на фиатные валюты Translation: Africa Tops the World in Spreads for Converting Stablecoins to Fiat Currencies

In January, Africa emerged as the leader in terms of conversion spreads for converting stablecoins into fiat currencies. This information comes from a report by Borderless.

The median exchange rate differential in the region was recorded at 299 basis points (approximately 3%). In Latin America, this figure stood at 1.3%, while in Asia, it was merely 0.07%.

Transaction costs within the continent vary significantly. In South Africa, conversion costs about 1.5%, whereas in Botswana, the figure soared to 19.5%.

Analysts attributed this disparity to the levels of competition and liquidity in local markets.

Botswana had the worst performance in January with a rate of 19.4%, and high costs were also observed in Congo (over 13%). In South Africa, where the currency market is more developed, conditions proved to be more favorable.

The study also compared stablecoin rates with those in the traditional interbank market. Globally, the average difference is a minimal 0.05%. However, in Africa, this gap reaches 1.19%.

Analysts pointed out the complete fragmentation of the African market. The correlation between national currency rates is nearly nonexistent. Each of the 13 countries included in the study exhibits its own dynamics, influenced more by local conditions than by overarching continental trends.

It is worth recalling that in September 2025, the executives of Africa Bitcoin Corporation stated that Bitcoin would address fundamental issues facing the African continent — devaluation and inflation.