- Visa expands stablecoin settlement in CEMEA to reduce costs and speed up cross-border payments.
- Partnership with Aquanow enables banks to settle transactions using USDC and improve efficiency.
- Regulators are reviewing stablecoin rules as adoption grows in institutional payment systems.
Visa has collaborated with crypto infrastructure developer Aquanow to increase stablecoin settlement in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). The partnership will facilitate ease in cross border dealings and minimize operations expenses.
With approved stablecoins such as USDC, Visa will empower issuers and acquirers in the region to transact using approved stablecoins. The move addresses growing demand from banks and payment firms for faster, more efficient cross-border payment solutions.
By leveraging stablecoins, Visa plans to digitize the back-end of money movement. The integration enables close instant settlement and less dependency on conventional systems having various intermediaries. The program also favors 24/7 settlement, which is resistant to delays by weekends and clearing cycles. Visa has been gradually scaling stablecoin settlement, reaching a cumulative $200 million in volume through African partnerships and platform development.
Partnership with Aquanow Strengthens Digital Infrastructure
Aquanow provides institutional-grade digital asset services for banks, neobanks, brokerages, and payment companies. The platform processes billions in monthly crypto transactions, making it a suitable partner for Visa’s expansion.
Together, the companies will enable financial institutions in the CEMEA region to settle transactions more efficiently, reducing friction and operational complexity. Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot has already achieved a $2.5 billion annualized run rate, signaling growing adoption among institutional clients. Earlier, Visa launched a pilot program that allows businesses to send payouts directly to stablecoin wallets.
Growing Role of Stablecoins in Institutional Payments
Stablecoins, initially used for cryptocurrency exchange transfers, are increasingly adopted for institutional settlement. They now function similarly to the US dollar in on-chain economies. Banks and financial institutions are exploring stablecoins to avoid intermediary fees and unpredictable clearing times.
Market infrastructure providers like Deutsche Börse are also integrating euro-pegged stablecoins into their custody services. This reflects a broader trend of embedding stablecoins into institutional payment and settlement systems.
Regulatory Developments and Market Impact
Regulators are evaluating how to supervise stablecoin exposure in the banking sector. The Basel Committee is considering a different approach to the current risk weighting for crypto holdings. In parallel, the UK and US are expected to align on stablecoin regulations.
Clearer frameworks may unlock further adoption and allow stablecoins to reach their full potential. In the meantime, Visa is still adding functionality, such as seven-day settlement and Visa Tokenized Asset Platform to banks. Moreover, Fold has introduced a Bitcoin-only rewards credit card in collaboration with Visa and Stripe. Its latest Q2 2025 performance demonstrates net revenue of $9.6 billion, which is an improvement with its stablecoin projects.
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