Visa expands its payments infrastructure in the CEMEA region through a partnership with digital-asset platform Aquanow to facilitate settlements with USD Coin (USDC) and other stablecoins, targeting markets with frictions in cross-border payments and the promise of near-instant 24/7 settlement. The move follows pilots with a $2.5 billion annualized run-rate and reflects Visa’s push to modernize settlement rails across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Stablecoin settlement integration for institutional participants
The collaboration integrates Aquanow’s infrastructure with Visa’s network to enable financial institutions and fintechs in CEMEA to settle using dollar-backed stablecoins, with USDC prioritized in the initial rollout. Stablecoins are presented here as digital assets pegged to fiat currency to stabilize on-chain settlement.
The integration reduces multi-day settlement windows and minimizes intermediary dependence in cross-border transfers. It offers continuous settlement and an immutable ledger, improving traceability and auditability.
Visa already supports more than 25 fiat currencies and expands its stablecoin strategy through initiatives like Visa Direct for instant payouts, alongside stakes in firms leveraging tokenized payments. These programs complement the Aquanow partnership as part of Visa’s broader infrastructure evolution.
“By pairing stablecoins with our global technology we are enabling faster and simpler settlements for institutions in CEMEA,” said Godfrey Sullivan, emphasizing the modernization of settlement rails. The statement reinforces Visa’s intent to streamline institutional payment flows.
Global stablecoin settlement volume reached $27.6 trillion in 2024, surpassing traditional card network volume by 7.6%. This scale illustrates the competitive urgency behind Visa’s expansion.
For treasuries and traders, the benefit lies in reduced capital lock-ups and lower intra-day FX exposure, while liquidity providers may see shifts in volume behavior and spreads. Operational efficiency stands out as a primary incentive for adoption.
Risks include potential de-pegging, technical complexity across jurisdictions and exposure to multiple counterparties. A multicoin, multichain model increases both flexibility and regulatory overhead.
Pilot data also reflects demand — 57% of creators prefer instant access to funds, supporting adoption while concentrating risk in custody flows and issuer trust. Faster settlement increases utility but also heightens dependency on stablecoin infrastructure.
The partnership with Aquanow positions Visa to expand stablecoin-based settlement in CEMEA, accelerating liquidity cycles and transforming cross-border payment architecture. It simultaneously transfers new operational, issuer and regulatory risks to institutions adopting the model.
