Visa and Aquanow Provide Lightning-Fast Settlements for International Transactions

Visa and Aquanow Expand Stablecoin Settlement in CEMEA

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) has joined forces with Aquanow, a provider of digital asset infrastructure, to broaden stablecoin settlement options throughout Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). This collaboration marks a major advancement in the modernization of international payment systems.

Through this partnership, financial institutions connected to Visa’s network can now settle transactions using authorized stablecoins such as USDC. This shift is expected to lower operational expenses, speed up settlement times, and reduce dependence on conventional correspondent banking networks. The initiative builds on Visa’s successful 2023 pilot, which proved the effectiveness of stablecoin settlements and has since reached a monthly transaction volume equivalent to $2.5 billion annually.

By integrating Aquanow’s infrastructure with Visa’s technology, the system now supports settlements every day of the year, removing delays caused by weekends, holidays, or time zone differences. Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA, noted that this partnership responds to increasing institutional demand for quicker and more reliable payment methods. He stated that combining stablecoins with Visa’s trusted global platform allows financial institutions in the region to benefit from faster and more straightforward settlements. This move reflects a broader industry trend, as stablecoins are increasingly used to connect traditional financial systems with blockchain technology, delivering greater transparency and efficiency.

Aquanow’s expertise as a liquidity provider plays a vital role in this initiative. The company handles billions of dollars in crypto transactions each month and maintains regulatory approval in markets such as the UAE, where it operates under Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Aquanow CEO Phil Sham emphasized that the collaboration with Visa is opening up innovative opportunities for institutions to engage in the digital economy, using stablecoin technology to achieve settlement speeds and transparency comparable to the internet.

Visa’s expansion into stablecoin settlements positions the company alongside competitors like Mastercard, which has recently introduced tools for stablecoin transactions, and American Express, which is exploring blockchain-based rewards. This development is part of Visa’s broader effort to digitize the infrastructure behind global payments, aiming to lower liquidity costs and attract fintech firms and digital banks seeking more affordable cross-border payment solutions.

Despite these advancements, regulatory and market hurdles remain. While stablecoins are less volatile than other cryptocurrencies, their widespread adoption depends on navigating changing compliance requirements and managing systemic risks. Visa’s partnership with Aquanow, which operates within a regulated framework, highlights the company’s careful approach to innovation and regulatory compliance.

Looking forward, Visa intends to further grow its stablecoin ecosystem by supporting more tokens across various blockchains, as outlined by CEO Ryan McInerney in recent earnings discussions. This strategy is in line with a wider industry movement toward blockchain-based finance, with central banks and financial institutions increasingly considering digital currencies as a supplement to traditional financial systems.