Yellow Card reveals why it pivoted from crypto exchange

Stablecoin infrastructure provider Yellow Card has announced it will cease operations of its consumer-facing crypto exchange, marking a strategic shift from business-to-consumer (B2C) services to business-to-business (B2B) infrastructure. This decision, conveyed by Lasbery Oludimu, Group Vice President of Operations and Managing Director of Yellow Card Nigeria, was made during a media briefing in Lagos following the company's $40 million fundraise to bolster its stablecoin infrastructure.

Oludimu explained that the shift was driven by a broader evaluation of how to deploy the company's technology infrastructure more profitably. The closure, which took effect in December 2025, was not influenced by regulatory challenges faced by Binance or broader developments in Nigeria's cryptocurrency market. Moreover, the decision extended beyond Nigeria, as Oludimu affirmed that the shutdown was not confined to the country.

According to Oludimu, the transition to a B2B model would enable Yellow Card to better monetize the infrastructure it has invested heavily in developing and maintaining. Additionally, this model aligns more closely with the company's product strategy, as businesses can integrate Yellow Card's infrastructure into their own operations.

From a business standpoint, the shift is projected to be more profitable, while from a product perspective, it allows Yellow Card to provide its infrastructure to customers who can utilize it more effectively.

Currently, Yellow Card operates in over 50 markets, offering stablecoin payments, fiat settlement rails, wallet services, and the issuance of custom local stablecoins. This strategic pivot has resulted in the company's total equity financing reaching over $120 million, with the recent $40 million investment contributing to this total. The influx of funding will support the expansion of Global USD Accounts, Yellow Card's end-to-end dollar account for businesses, and enhance stablecoin rails across its global markets.

Regulatory progress has also accompanied Yellow Card's expansion. In June, the company obtained AML affiliation in Switzerland, designating it as a supervised financial intermediary. This affiliation provides banking partners and institutional clients with a regulated access point to Yellow Card's stablecoin infrastructure across Africa and other international markets.

Yellow Card is also pursuing licensing under Nigeria's Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP) through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Oludimu indicated that the company has submitted an application to the regulatory body, with ARIP accelerating Nigeria's position as a leader in global regulatory standards by offering a structured pathway for crypto businesses to operate within a regulated framework.