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Visa Partners With Aquanow to Expand Stablecoin Settlements in CEMEA Region
Visa's Stablecoin Expansion with Aquanow
On November 27, Visa Inc. announced a partnership with crypto fintech company Aquanow to enhance stablecoin settlement options in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA).
- The collaboration connects Visa's payment network with Aquanow's digital asset infrastructure.
- This enables financial institutions to use stablecoins like USDC for transactions.
- The setup aims to reduce costs and accelerate cross-border financial processes.
Impact on Financial Settlements
- The initiative responds to demand for continuous settlements without traditional banking delays.
- Visa's previous USDC pilot shows a $2.5 billion annualized monthly run rate.
- Godfrey Sullivan from Visa describes it as an upgrade to regional payment systems.
- Aquanow CEO Phil Sham highlights internet-speed transparency in institutional flows.
Stablecoin Market Growth
- In 2025, Visa expanded its stablecoin efforts through various pilots and support for multiple stablecoins.
- The stablecoin market cap exceeded $300 billion, nearing $305 billion.
- USDT and USDC dominate with 60% and 25% market shares respectively.
- Growth is driven by regulatory approvals and demand for quick transfers in emerging markets.
Visa's move aligns with its strategy to integrate blockchain technologies, reflecting a trend that started in 2020 and continues today. Stablecoins now compete with significant portions of Visa’s transaction volume, reaching $6 trillion in Q1 2025.