Building financial inclusion through stablecoins 

For Jonathan Katende (pictured), founder of Lipaworld, the drive to improve financial inclusion is deeply personal. “I’m a two-time immigrant,” he explains. “Born in the DRC, I grew up in Johannesburg. I experienced first-hand the challenges my parents faced with remittances and later, when I moved to New York with my family, I came up against the same barriers again, such as difficulty opening a bank account, transferring credit history, and accessing financial services.” 

These recurring pain points gave Katende the conviction that there had to be a better way. Drawing on his background in technology and operations, he set out to build something “substantial, but also purposeful”, a platform that would serve individuals facing the same struggles he had. That vision became Lipaworld, a fintech venture using stablecoins to provide secure, accessible financial services. 

Practical crypto for real-world problems 

Katende is quick to distance his project from the hype-driven side of crypto. “We’re not about promoting speculative trading or hype,” he stresses. “For us, it’s about creating an operating system that actually works for people, whereby we make financial services accessible, transparent and empowering.” 

Stablecoins, particularly USDC, the regulated dollar-backed token, lie at the core of Lipaworld’s model. “Stablecoins enable users to move money globally with lower costs, greater speed and stronger control over their own funds,” he says. “In markets with currency volatility, such as Argentina or parts of Africa, we’ve seen people adopting stablecoins naturally because they simply work better than traditional alternatives.” 

Three core customer groups 

Lipaworld’s focus falls on three main demographics: 

• Immigrants – particularly members of the South African diaspora abroad who want to move funds back to loved ones. 
• Freelancers – often younger workers paid through platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, whose income is global but whose banking options are limited. 
• Businesses – especially small South African firms seeking to trade with US customers but struggling with the requirement for US bank accounts. 

“We help them unlock that,” Katende says. “We can open up virtual bank accounts, move funds locally, and soon we’ll be offering payroll solutions too. But while we’re intentional about these three groupings, we’re equally committed to grassroots accessibility. South Africa has an unemployment problem but that doesn’t mean people should be left out of the financial ecosystem.” 

Why USDC? 

Lipaworld’s decision to build around USDC was both practical and strategic. “As a regulated stablecoin backed one-to-one with reserves, it gives users protection and trust,” Katende explains. “Every coin issued is held in cash or bonds, so if you want to redeem, there’s an obligation to give you dollars back. That’s not the case with every stablecoin. For us, as a New York-headquartered business and Circle Alliance partner, USDC was the clear choice.” 

Regulation and opportunity in Africa 

While regulation of crypto and stablecoins is uneven globally, Katende sees momentum building. “South Africa is one of the shining lights on the continent,” he notes, referencing new licensing regimes for crypto providers. “Nigeria is also moving in that direction. The US is playing catch-up, and once regulation is formalised there, it will filter down. African states can, and should, be proactive, because regulation brings trust and unlocks new opportunities, even the potential for local stablecoins.” 

Financial literacy remains a barrier in much of Africa, but Lipaworld has designed its platform to bridge that gap. “We wanted to make sure that even non-crypto users don’t feel like they’re using crypto,” Katende says. “For the crypto-native, the wallet address and functionality are visible. For someone completely new, it feels like using a regular payments app. Education comes through intuitive design – it’s simple, familiar, and accessible.

“From a financial education perspective, I think there are two things to be said,” Katende explains. “Number one, our youth is super locked in and clued up on what’s happening with stablecoins. But the real challenge lies with the underserved, people living below the breadline who want to top up their accounts.” This duality shapes Lipaworld’s approach. Inspired by Capitec’s grassroots-focused banking model, Katende wants his fintech to “speak the language people want to hear” while also catering for a globalised, mobile generation. 

Redefining remittances 

Lipaworld’s innovations extend beyond money transfers. Its marketplace allows users abroad to send goods and services directly. For example, a voucher redeemable at a spaza shop for essentials like bread and milk. “Why go through a bank just to withdraw cash when you can send a voucher for its intended purpose?” Katende asks. “That’s a small but powerful shift.” 

The company is also preparing to launch a stablecoin card. “Think about subscriptions,” he explains. “If you’re paying from a rand account, the amount changes every month with FX rates. With a dollarised stablecoin card, $5 is $5, there’s certainty. It’s better for subscriptions, travel and even for people who want to hold some of their savings in foreign currency.” 

What advisers need to know 

Financial advisers, many of whom remain cautious about crypto, should view stablecoins not as speculation but as empowerment. “Stablecoins in a self-custodial wallet give people real control of their assets,” Katende stresses. “Emergencies happen, so what greater unlock than to access your funds in real time, and even earn yield on them? We’re now seeing the rise of yield-bearing stablecoins, where you can earn interest directly. It’s financial autonomy.” 

And for those worried about security? “It’s absolutely paramount,” Katende says. “We’ve built enterprise-grade protections: two-factor authentication, unique PINs for every transaction, and recovery options if a device is lost. Security has to be balanced with usability, but our goal is simple: protect users while keeping access seamless.” 

A vision with purpose 

Ultimately, Katende frames Lipaworld as more than a fintech start-up: it is a mission to build financial systems that genuinely work for people. “For me, this is personal,” he says. “It’s about solving pain points I’ve lived through and creating something intentional – something that empowers people, especially immigrants and communities who are underserved by traditional banks. That’s the real value of stablecoins and the opportunity we’re unlocking with Lipaworld.” 

Valuable lessons for Financial Advisers from Lipaworld’s approach

• Stablecoins as tools for empowerment
  Rather than viewing stablecoins as speculative assets, advisers should recognise their potential to provide financial autonomy. Clients can use self-custodial wallets to access funds in real time, move money globally with ease, and even earn yields through yield-bearing stablecoins. These features cater to diverse needs, including remittances, savings, and payment solutions.
• Immigration and financial barriers
  Many clients, particularly immigrants, face challenges such as accessing banking services or transferring funds abroad. Lipaworld’s model demonstrates that fintech platforms using regulated stablecoins can eliminate these barriers, allowing advisers to offer innovative solutions to underserved demographics.
• Adoption of technology for secure access
  Digital tools equipped with advanced security measures, such as two-factor authentication and unique PIN systems, assure clients of robust protection. Advisers can leverage such platforms to build trust with clients while providing seamless access to financial services.
• Understanding evolving client needs
  The financial landscape is changing, with clients increasingly demanding transparency, accessibility, and innovation. Lipaworld’s success highlights the importance of focusing on client-centric, tech-driven solutions that align fiduciary responsibility with empowerment and practical use cases.
• Broadening financial inclusion efforts
  Grassroots-focused initiatives, such as Lipaworld’s voucher system and stablecoin cards, showcase how advisers can rethink traditional remittance models to provide purposeful and impactful financial solutions. By supporting underserved clients or embracing transformative fintech tools, advisers can grow their practices while driving social impact.