Visa Partners With Aquanow to Expand Stablecoin Settlement Across the CEMEA Region

Visa has announced that it is expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) through a new partnership with Aquanow, a digital assets platform.

Why Visa’s Stablecoin Infrastructure

According to Visa, the integration of Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure with Visa’s technology stack will allow issuers and acquirers across the CEMEA region to settle transactions using approved stablecoins such as USDC. By leveraging blockchain-based settlement, Visa seeks to reduce operational costs, simplify workflows, and accelerate settlement cycles.

The demand for faster and more efficient cross-border payments continues to rise among financial institutions. Stablecoins have emerged as a key solution for addressing pain points in settlement, including weekend limitations, intermediary fees, and unpredictable clearing times.

Visa Builds on Strong Momentum Following USDC Pilot

Visa’s engagement with stablecoin technology is not new. In 2023, the company became one of the first major payments networks to allow clients to settle obligations in USDC as part of a pilot initiative. The program has since scaled substantially, with monthly volume surpassing a $2.5 billion annualized run rate.

“By harnessing the power of stablecoins and pairing them with our trusted global technology, we are enabling financial institutions in CEMEA to experience faster and simpler settlements,” said Godfrey Sullivan, Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA at Visa.

“Our partnership with Aquanow is another key step in modernizing the back-end rails of payments, reducing reliance on traditional systems with multiple intermediaries, and preparing institutions for the future of money movement.”

Aquanow: Bringing Digital Asset Expertise to Visa’s Global Network

Aquanow provides institutional-grade digital asset services for banks, neobanks, brokerages, and payments companies. It will serve as a key infrastructure partner in the rollout. The company processes billions of dollars in monthly crypto brokerage and payment transactions, making it a strong fit for Visa’s ambitions.

“Visa’s reliable global network has long moved money securely and efficiently,” said Aquanow CEO Phil Sham. “Together, Visa and Aquanow are unlocking new ways for institutions to participate in the digital economy, leveraging stablecoin technology to settle with the speed and transparency of the internet.”

Visa Says Tech Still Needs Regulatory Clarity

In July this year, Visa surpassed $200 million in cumulative stablecoin settlement volume while expanding its crypto infrastructure through African partnerships and platform development.

However, CEO Ryan McInerney warned that the technology still requires clearer regulations to reach its full potential. The payment giant reported strong Q2 2025 results with $9.6 billion in net revenue, up 9% year-over-year, as it continues building stablecoin capabilities, including its first seven-day-a-week settlement system and the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform for bank partnerships.