Circle taps ex-Yellow Card executive Gillian Darko to lead Africa expansion.
Circle Internet Group, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)-listed issuer of the dollar-backed USDC stablecoin, has appointed Gillian Darko, a former Yellow Card executive, as its Vice President and Head of Africa, deepening its push into the continent’s expanding digital payments market.
The move comes as Circle seeks to expand stablecoins’ use in cross-border payments, remittances, and business transactions across emerging economies.
“I’m more than thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Circle as Vice President, Head of Africa,” Darko wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday.
And I am bullish about the future of digital finance on this continent.” Darko previously served as Group Vice President of Strategy at Yellow Card, where she helped shape the company’s commercial expansion, revenue strategy, and partnerships with banks, telecom operators, and global financial institutions. She joined Yellow Card in 2024 as Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy before rising through its leadership ranks. Her appointment also strengthens Circle’s regional leadership, signalling that Africa is emerging as an important market for dollar-backed stablecoins, even as several African regulators move to tighten oversight of foreign issuers. Nigeria’s proposed rules require foreign issuers to secure regulatory recognition, while Kenya’s framework gives the Central Bank the authority to suspend or delist non-compliant foreign-issued stablecoins.
MSEApp News is publishing an original rewrite of this tip for readers, based on reporting associated with TechCabal.