Visa Expands Stablecoin Payments to Europe, Middle East and Africa Through New Partnership

Visa has expanded its stablecoin settlement capabilities to the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region through a new partnership with crypto infrastructure firm Aquanow. This initiative allows banks and payment companies in CEMEA to settle transactions instantly using USD Coin (USDC), bypassing the multi-day delays associated with traditional wire transfers. Aquanow integrates its digital asset technology with Visa's network, enabling 24/7 settlement capabilities, which is a significant advantage over conventional banking hours. This move is part of Visa's broader strategy to build a "multicoin and multichain foundation," as its digital currency platform already processes an annualized run rate of $2.5 billion. The expansion occurs amid growing stablecoin adoption globally and increasing regulatory clarity, such as Europe's MiCA regulation, positioning stablecoins as critical infrastructure for reducing costs and increasing speed in cross-border payments.

(Source：Brave New Coin)