Yellow Card Shuts Down Retail App to Focus on B2B Solutions: What Customers Need to Know

Yellow Card, one of Africa's largest cryptocurrency platforms, has announced it will discontinue its retail application as the company shifts its focus entirely to business-to-business (B2B) solutions. The announcement, made to customers recently, marks a strategic pivot toward Treasury Management and Payments API products, ending the company's direct-to-consumer services.

Why Is Yellow Card Closing the Retail App?

According to TechCrunch, Yellow Card began shifting away from retail customers after the company reached 1 million customers in 2021. The pivot came when the company realized how costly it was to handle retail users on the platform.

While all cryptocurrency customers—regardless of transaction size—must go through sanction screening, Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, and chain analysis screening, the margins for small retail users were too thin to make the business sustainable. In contrast, small to large businesses were moving significantly larger volumes and paying higher gas fees, making them more profitable clients.

As a result, Yellow Card has raised its minimum transaction amounts, a deliberate measure to reduce its broad retail base and grow its appeal to businesses using the platform to manage treasury and access stablecoins. The company raised $33 million in Series C funding in October 2024 led by Blockchain Capital specifically to scale its B2B pivot.

What Customers Must Do Now

To ensure a smooth transition, Yellow Card is asking all retail customers to withdraw their full balance from their wallets at the earliest convenience.

For detailed assistance, customers can visit the FAQ page about the app closure or contact Yellow Card customer support directly.

Key Dates to Remember

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If customers are unable to withdraw funds by December 31, 2025, Yellow Card states that funds will be held securely on their behalf in accordance with applicable regulations. The company will have a process for customers to claim their funds after the app has closed, with more information to be available on their website after the closure date.

However, customers are strongly encouraged to withdraw funds before the deadline to avoid complications and delays in accessing their money.

Yellow Card's New B2B Focus

Yellow Card is now positioning itself as "Africa's leading stablecoin payment infrastructure," according to the company's official website. The company focuses on two primary B2B products:

Treasury Management

Helping businesses manage their financial reserves using stablecoins, providing access to dollar-denominated assets without traditional banking infrastructure limitations.

Payments API

Enabling businesses to integrate cryptocurrency and stablecoin payment capabilities directly into their platforms, facilitating cross-border transactions and reducing reliance on traditional payment rails like SWIFT.

According to TechCabal, Yellow Card is among several African crypto platforms betting on B2B crypto payments as the future of the industry. The company has partnerships with major players including Visa, Flutterwave, and Onafriq to expedite stablecoin adoption across Africa.

Yellow Card's Journey

Founded in 2016 by Justin Poiroux, Yellow Card became one of Africa's largest cryptocurrency platforms, operating in over 15 countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Senegal, and others. According to Tracxn, the company has raised $89.5 million in total funding over four rounds from 25 investors including Polychain Capital, Third Prime, and Castle Island Ventures.

The company positioned itself as providing financial inclusion through cryptocurrency access, offering zero trading fees, multiple payment options including mobile money, and 24-hour customer support. However, the economics of serving individual retail customers ultimately proved unsustainable.

A Broader Industry Trend

Yellow Card's pivot reflects a broader trend in African cryptocurrency platforms. Competitors including Quidax and Busha have also shifted focus toward B2B solutions, recognizing that businesses move larger volumes and generate more sustainable revenue than individual retail customers.

CEO Chris Maurice explained to TechCrunch that in Africa, an individual and a small business are not mutually exclusive—for example, an individual owning a small kiosk. Hence, Yellow Card's customer base still ranges from traders selling imported shoes to some of the continent's largest corporations. "The way business and personal use blend together on the continent creates a very different dynamic, making our approach relevant for both groups," Maurice noted.

Additionally, the company believes that serving businesses means individuals benefit more from the technology indirectly. By using Yellow Card for treasury management, companies that import food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods can make essential items more affordable and accessible, benefiting the broader population even if individuals aren't directly engaging with crypto.

Regulatory Context

The closure also comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrency platforms across Africa. Nigeria's newly signed Investments and Securities Act (2025) mandates startups to register with the SEC, creating regulatory complexity for retail crypto exchanges. B2B solutions may face less regulatory burden than direct-to-consumer services.

What This Means for Customers

For retail customers who have relied on Yellow Card for cryptocurrency access, this closure represents a significant disruption. Customers will need to:

• Find Alternative Platforms: Identify other cryptocurrency exchanges operating in their country that serve retail customers
• Transfer Funds: Complete withdrawals before December 31, 2025
• Consider Business Options: If applicable, small business owners may explore Yellow Card's B2B solutions if they meet minimum transaction thresholds

The Bottom Line

Yellow Card's decision to exit the retail market and focus exclusively on B2B solutions reflects the economic realities of operating a cryptocurrency platform in Africa. While the company reached 1 million retail customers, the thin margins and high compliance costs made the retail business unsustainable compared to serving businesses moving larger volumes.

For customers, the message is clear: withdraw your funds by December 31, 2025. After January 1, 2026, the app will no longer be accessible, and while Yellow Card promises a process to claim funds after closure, withdrawing now is the safest and simplest option.

This pivot marks the end of Yellow Card as a direct-to-consumer cryptocurrency platform and the beginning of its new identity as Africa's leading B2B stablecoin infrastructure provider.