Visa and Aquanow Partnership Strengthens Stablecoin Settlement Across CEMEA Region

Major payment processor Visa has joined forces with crypto infrastructure company Aquanow to drive stablecoin-powered settlement solutions across the CEMEA region. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step in bringing digital asset infrastructure to emerging markets, where traditional cross-border payment systems have long been challenged by inefficiency and complexity.

Strategic Expansion in the CEMEA Region

The partnership targets Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—regions where financial institutions are increasingly seeking faster settlement alternatives. By leveraging approved stablecoins like USDC, both companies aim to address critical pain points in international transactions. According to Godfrey Sullivan, Head of Products and Solutions for Visa CEMEA, the initiative will enable regional institutions to experience fundamentally different settlement experiences compared to traditional multi-intermediary infrastructure.

How Stablecoin Settlement Transforms Transaction Efficiency

The core of this collaboration revolves around deploying USDC for settlement purposes within the CEMEA region. Unlike conventional cross-border payments that require multiple intermediaries and extended processing times, stablecoin-based settlements operate on blockchain rails, dramatically reducing operational friction. The technical infrastructure provided by Aquanow facilitates seamless integration between Visa’s payment network and blockchain-based settlement systems, enabling institutions to complete transactions faster while minimizing costs associated with currency conversion and intermediary fees.

Broader Implications for Regional Financial Institutions

This partnership signals a shift in how global payment networks approach emerging markets. Financial institutions across the CEMEA region now have access to infrastructure that supports both speed and compliance. The collaboration underscores growing recognition that stablecoins, when properly regulated and integrated with traditional payment systems, can serve as practical bridges between legacy finance and blockchain-based alternatives. For Visa, expanding settlement capabilities in the CEMEA region represents an opportunity to strengthen market position while offering customers tangible improvements in transaction efficiency and cost structure.