Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlements in CEMEA with Aquanow Partnership

Visa is broadening its stablecoin settlement options in the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region through a partnership with Aquanow, a platform for digital assets. This move aims to streamline payment processes, reduce costs, and enhance transaction efficiency using approved stablecoins like USDC.

Key Takeaways

Expansion of Services: Visa collaborates with Aquanow to enhance stablecoin settlements across CEMEA.
Improved Transactions: The partnership aims to reduce costs and improve the speed of transactions for financial institutions.
Proven Track Record: Visa's engagement with stablecoins began with a pilot program that saw significant transaction volumes.
Need for Regulation: Visa emphasizes the importance of clear regulatory guidelines to maximize technology potential.

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Visa’s Stablecoin Infrastructure

Visa's alliance with Aquanow integrates the latter's digital asset infrastructure with Visa's technology. This integration enables issuers and acquirers in the CEMEA region to settle transactions using stablecoins like USDC. By employing blockchain-based settlements, Visa strives to lower operational costs, streamline workflows, and hasten settlement processes.

The need for quicker and more effective cross-border payments is growing among financial institutions. Stablecoins have surfaced as a vital solution to address common settlement challenges, including the limitations on weekends, intermediary fees, and uncertain clearing times.

Building on a Successful USDC Pilot

Visa’s involvement with stablecoin technology is not a new endeavor. In 2023, the company became one of the pioneering payment networks enabling clients to settle transactions in USDC through a pilot initiative. This program has expanded considerably, reaching a remarkable monthly transaction volume that exceeds a $2.5 billion annualized rate.

“By leveraging stablecoins alongside our dependable global technology, we are offering financial institutions in CEMEA faster and more straightforward settlements,” stated Godfrey Sullivan, Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA at Visa.

“Our collaboration with Aquanow represents a crucial step in modernizing payment infrastructures, lessening dependence on traditional, intermediary-heavy systems, and readying institutions for the evolving landscape of money movement.”

Aquanow: A Digital Asset Ally

Aquanow delivers high-grade digital asset services tailored for banks, neobanks, brokerages, and payment firms, positioning itself as an essential partner for Visa. The company already manages billions in monthly cryptocurrency brokerage and payment transactions, aligning perfectly with Visa’s goals.

“Visa’s trusted global network has always facilitated secure and efficient monetary transfers,” remarked Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow. “Together, we are creating fresh opportunities for institutions to engage in the digital economy, harnessing stablecoin technology to ensure speedy and transparent transactions.”

The Need for Regulatory Clarity

In July of this year, Visa reported exceeding $200 million in total stablecoin settlement volume while enhancing its crypto infrastructure through partnerships in Africa and platform advancements.

Nonetheless, CEO Ryan McInerney has cautioned that clearer regulations are still necessary for the technology to reach its full capabilities. The payments giant disclosed robust Q2 2025 results, boasting $9.6 billion in net revenue—an increase of 9% compared to the previous year—as it continues to develop its stablecoin capabilities. This includes its first seven-day settlement system and the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform for partnerships with banks.