Visa Just Made Stablecoin Payments Easier Across CEMEA
Visa is taking another big step into the world of digital money. The company has expanded its stablecoin settlement system across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — a huge move that makes it easier for banks and financial institutions in these regions to settle transactions using stablecoins.
This upgrade comes through a new partnership with Aquanow, a digital asset infrastructure firm.
Why This Matters
With this collaboration, Visa can now settle payments 365 days a year, without depending on slow, traditional banking systems. No more waiting for business hours, bank holidays, or cross-border delays.
It’s faster.
It’s cheaper.
And it removes a lot of the old bottlenecks that used to slow international payments down.
Growing Demand for Digital Settlements
Financial institutions have been asking for quicker and more efficient ways to move money across borders. Visa saw that demand, and instead of waiting, it decided to push deeper into stablecoin technology.
This all builds on Visa’s successful 2023 stablecoin pilot, where it started settling transactions in USDC. Today, those stablecoin settlements have already reached a massive $2.5 billion annual run rate — showing just how quickly the idea is catching on.
Aquanow’s Take
Phil Sham, the CEO of Aquanow, says the partnership brings together the best of both worlds:
- Visa’s global, trusted payment network
- Aquanow’s expertise in digital assets
According to him, this move opens new doors for institutions to join the digital economy, while taking advantage of the speed and transparency that stablecoins offer.
