Visa has expanded its stablecoin-settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), marking one of its most significant steps yet in modernizing how funds move through its global network. The development follows a new collaboration with Aquanow, a digital-asset infrastructure provider whose technology enables Visa to settle transactions using USD Coin (USDC).
Settlement through Aquanow’s infrastructure
With Aquanow’s system integrated into Visa’s treasury operations, participating issuers and acquirers in the CEMEA region can now settle certain obligations with Visa using USDC on approved blockchain networks. The upgrade reduces friction tied to correspondent banking, allows settlement outside traditional cut-off windows, and offers a more predictable operational flow for institutions navigating complex regional banking environments.
While Visa does not claim full 24/7/365 settlement coverage, the company confirms that the expanded system removes many timing constraints caused by weekends and local holidays, giving financial institutions more control over when and how they manage liquidity.
Godfrey Sullivan, who leads product and solutions for Visa in CEMEA, described the collaboration as an important step in updating settlement infrastructure and reducing reliance on older systems with multiple intermediaries. His comments align with the region’s broader push to modernise cross-border payment operations, where demand for faster and more predictable settlement continues to rise.
Building on rising institutional demand
Visa’s stablecoin-settlement program has attracted growing institutional interest. Recent disclosures show that monthly settlement flows have passed a US $2.5 billion annualized run rate, underscoring stronger demand for blockchain-enabled payment rails. This expansion builds on Visa’s recently announced pilots under Visa Direct, where the company began testing stablecoin-powered payouts for creators and gig-economy workers. These trials support Visa’s broader effort to modernise cross-border disbursement.
By bringing stablecoin settlement to CEMEA, Visa prepares its network for the next stage of digital payments. The update helps the company stay ready as institutions explore new ways to move value.
