- Visa partners with Aquanow to expand stablecoin settlement capabilities across CEMEA using USDC.
- The collaboration eliminates traditional banking delays, offering 365-day settlement for financial institutions.
- Visa’s stablecoin settlement volume has reached a $2.5 billion annualized run rate, with plans to support multiple stablecoins across different blockchains.
Visa has partnered with Aquanow, a crypto infrastructure provider, to expand stablecoin settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). This collaboration aims to streamline transactions for issuers and acquirers in the region, using stablecoins like USDC. Visa’s move reflects its growing commitment to blockchain technology as it increases stablecoin settlement volumes.
New Settlement Capabilities in CEMEA
Through this partnership, Visa will enable financial institutions in CEMEA to settle transactions using approved stablecoins. The integration eliminates the delays typically caused by weekends and holidays, which are common with traditional banking methods. Visa’s network will allow transactions to settle every day of the year, providing more consistent and efficient payment solutions.
Visa first piloted stablecoin settlements in 2023, using USDC to settle transactions. Since then, the company has scaled its stablecoin settlement operations significantly. As of now, Visa’s annualized stablecoin settlement volume has reached a $2.5 billion run rate. In the near future, Visa plans to support four stablecoins across four different blockchain networks.
Aquanow’s Role and Regional Expansion
Aquanow’s regional footprint further strengthens the partnership. Earlier this year, Aquanow collaborated with Standard Chartered-backed Zodia Custody to expand into the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Emirates NBD launched its crypto-asset brokerage service, fully integrated into its regulated banking ecosystem. The service, available through the Liv digital app, allows customers to securely buy and sell cryptocurrencies while keeping assets within the bank’s environment.
This initiative, the result of a collaboration with Zodia Custody and Aquanow, combines institutional-grade security, cold storage, and a fully compliant framework under the UAE’s VARA regulations. The launch reflects Emirates NBD’s broader goal to lead in the region’s digital finance evolution. It also opens doors for future innovations such as tokenized securities and staking services. The company also received a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority in 2024.
Through this collaboration, Visa gains access to Aquanow’s established infrastructure to enhance its services across CEMEA. This partnership will benefit both issuers and acquirers in the region, providing them with more efficient and transparent transaction processes. Phil Sham, CEO of Aquanow, stated that the collaboration allows institutions to participate more effectively in the digital economy. By utilizing stablecoins, Visa and Aquanow aim to offer a faster, more transparent way to settle payments compared to traditional banking systems.
