Visa is accelerating its push into blockchain-powered payments with a new partnership that extends stablecoin settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA).
The global payments giant has teamed up with digital asset infrastructure provider Aquanow to enable financial institutions in these regions to settle transactions using approved stablecoins such as USDC, a move aimed at speeding up cross-border payments and modernizing backend financial infrastructure.
A Major Step Toward 24/7 Blockchain Settlement
The integration grants institutions the ability to settle transactions 24/7, 365 days a year, removing the weekend and holiday delays inherent in traditional banking rails. This continuous settlement capability marks a significant shift away from cutoff times, correspondent banks, and slow cross-border processes.
Visa’s stablecoin settlement program is already scaling rapidly, reaching an annualized run rate of $2.5 billion in transaction volume, a strong sign that institutional appetite for blockchain-based settlement is rising across global markets.
Aquanow’s Infrastructure Powers Liquidity and Compliance
Aquanow plays a critical role by providing digital asset liquidity and regulatory-aligned infrastructure within Visa’s technology stack.
Key strengths include:
- •Licensing under Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
- •Capability to support multi-jurisdictional payment flows
- •Instant digital asset conversion and liquidity provisioning
This ensures that regional banks and fintechs can access stablecoin settlement rails without taking on regulatory or operational risks.
Transforming Cross-Border Payments in High-Growth Regions
Visa’s move is part of a broader strategy to embed blockchain technology into mainstream payment systems. The company sees stablecoins as a practical tool for reducing settlement friction, enabling faster cross-border flows, and lowering operating costs for financial operators across CEMEA, regions where remittances, international commerce, and digital payment adoption are expanding rapidly.
With stablecoin settlement now woven into its global payment network, Visa is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation financial infrastructure, combining the reliability of established payment systems with the efficiency of digital assets.