Noah and Payd have formed a strategic partnership to deliver instant, low-cost cross-border payments specifically tailored to Africa’s growing digital workforce.
Announced on February 12, 2026, the collaboration integrates Noah’s global payments infrastructure with Payd’s financial operating system, enabling more than 30,000 active Payd users who are primarily freelancers and remote professionals to receive international earnings directly into their wallets.
The solution leverages stablecoins (USDC and USDT) for real-time settlement, bypassing traditional correspondent banking delays and high fees.
Users generate virtual USD accounts with US routing numbers or EUR accounts with IBANs within the Payd app, allowing employers in the United States or Europe to send standard domestic transfers (ACH or SEPA).
Noah routes these funds, converts them to stablecoins, and settles them instantly into Payd wallets.
This approach delivers transaction costs significantly below the industry average of 3–8%, offering predictable, transparent alternatives to legacy banks and informal peer-to-peer channels.
Core Focus on Freelancers and Digital Professionals
The partnership deliberately targets freelancers, remote workers, and independent professionals rather than traditional remittance flows for several structural reasons:
- High-Value, Recurring International Income — Freelancers often earn in USD or EUR from global clients (e.g., Upwork, Fiverr, or direct contracts). These payments are typically larger and more frequent than one-off family remittances, making cost savings and speed more impactful. Stablecoin settlement preserves full value without the erosion common in remittance corridors.
- Need for Dollar-Native Access—Many African freelancers face restrictions on domiciliary accounts (Nigeria), high FX spreads (Kenya), or exchange-control compliance burdens (South Africa). Virtual USD/EUR accounts provide seamless receipt in hard currency, allowing users to hold value in digital dollars, spend online, or off-ramp to local currency only when needed.
- Friction in Legacy Systems — Traditional correspondent banking imposes delays (3–5 days), high fees, and unpredictable FX rates. Freelancers require immediate access to earnings for operational expenses, taxes, or investments. The Noah-Payd model enables real-time settlement, aligning with the on-demand nature of gig work.
- Scalable, Compliant Infrastructure — By focusing on professional earnings rather than consumer remittances, the partnership leverages regulated virtual accounts and stablecoin rails to ensure compliance across jurisdictions while minimising counterparty and FX risk.
READ ALSO:Why Onafriq Is Adopting Stablecoins for Institutional Cross-Border Liquidity
Cross-border trade payments for African businesses are still built on infrastructure that was never designed for speed or transparency. Owning regulated infrastructure allows us to remove layers of complexity and give businesses predictable, reliable rails they can build on
Yinka Adewale, CEO of Noah
Country-Specific Advantages
The solution addresses distinct realities in key markets:
- Kenya — Freelancers receive USD earnings and off-ramp directly to M-PESA in minutes, avoiding high spreads and settlement delays common in conventional channels.
- Nigeria — Users access USD accounts without domiciliary restrictions, converting to Naira at market-reflective rates and bypassing FX access barriers.
- South Africa — Remote workers manage exchange-control compliance by receiving funds into virtual accounts and repatriating only when necessary, reducing SWIFT fees.
- Senegal — Virtual EUR accounts enable seamless SEPA transfers from EU clients, with instant movement to local mobile money wallets such as Wave or Orange Money.
These tailored benefits enhance usability for professionals in high-freelance-activity hubs.
Why Not Remittances?
While remittances remain a large flow in Africa, the Noah-Payd model prioritises freelancers due to:
- Different Use Cases — Remittances are often one-off, family-support transfers with lower average values and different compliance profiles. Freelancer payments involve recurring business income requiring dollar preservation and immediate usability.
- Regulatory and Infrastructure Fit — Stablecoin-based virtual accounts excel for professional earnings, where users need to hold USD/EUR value and manage cash flow. Remittance corridors often benefit from established P2P or wallet-to-wallet models with different cost structures.
- Market Opportunity — Africa’s freelance and remote-work sector is expanding rapidly, driven by global platforms and digital skills. Targeting this segment allows Noah and Payd to capture high-frequency, higher-value flows with greater revenue potential and user retention.
Looking Ahead
Noah and Payd’s partnership strategically focuses on freelancers and digital professionals to address the unique pain points of recurring international earnings, including high fees, delays, FX volatility, and restricted hard-currency access.
By providing virtual USD/EUR accounts, real-time stablecoin settlement, and seamless local off-ramps, the solution delivers measurable advantages over legacy systems.
Announced on February 12, 2026, this initiative positions the two companies to support Africa’s expanding digital workforce while building scalable cross-border infrastructure.
For the latest details on availability and features, consult official resources from Noah or Payd.
Payd Overview
Payd company is a Kenya-based financial technology platform that offers digital payment and cash management services through its mobile solutions.
The Payd founder and Payd CEO is Benaiah Wepundi, who leads the company’s strategy and growth in the fintech space.
Users access services through the Payd app, and to get started, they complete Payd login with their registered phone number and PIN after the Payd App download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
The platform’s core offering, often described as Payd money, includes payments, transfers and cash collection features designed for individuals and businesses.
Payd Kenya refers to the company’s operations and customer base within Kenya’s digital payments ecosystem.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
