Mastercard and Circle Build Trust to Scale Stablecoin Future

Mastercard has expanded its collaboration with Circle to introduce USDC and EURC stablecoin settlement capabilities for acquirers in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) region. This development allows acquiring institutions in the EEMEA to settle transactions in fully-reserved stablecoins, which can then be used to facilitate settlements with merchants, marking a significant step toward the integration of blockchain-native assets into traditional financial infrastructure [1]. Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services are among the first to implement this solution, which aims to enhance liquidity and operational efficiency by reducing friction in high-volume settlements [1].

According to Mastercard, the move supports its strategic objective of integrating stablecoins into mainstream financial systems through infrastructure, governance, and partnerships. Dimitrios Dosis, President of EEMEA at Mastercard, emphasized the importance of trust in scaling stablecoin adoption, stating that the company is leveraging its decades of experience in security and compliance to advance the stablecoin ecosystem [1]. Kash Razzaghi, Chief Business Officer at Circle, noted that the partnership will facilitate borderless, real-time commerce by expanding USDC’s reach across Mastercard’s global network [1].

This initiative builds upon an existing partnership between Mastercard and Circle in the EEMEA region, where they have collaborated on crypto card solutions such as Bybit and S1LKPAY. These platforms use USDC to settle transactions, further demonstrating the growing role of stablecoins in digital commerce [1]. Arab Financial Services' CEO, Samer Soliman, highlighted that the new stablecoin settlement capability provides future-ready infrastructure for clients, enabling them to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market [1]. Eazy Financial Services' CEO, Nayef Al Alawi, added that the solution sets a new standard for digital settlement in the region and reflects a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of merchants and consumers [1].

Mastercard has been actively expanding its role in the stablecoin space globally, working with various partners to enable wallet integration, card issuing, and on-chain remittances. The company supports a diverse portfolio of regulated stablecoins, including Paxos’ USDG, Fiserv’s FIUSD, and PayPal’s PYUSD, and continues to explore use cases in B2B transactions, gig worker payouts, and remittances [1]. Circle’s USDC has seen significant growth, with its circulation increasing by 90% year over year to $61.3 billion by mid-2025, according to the company’s latest report [2].

As the stablecoin market continues to evolve, Mastercard is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of digital payments. By leveraging its global payment network and robust infrastructure—including Crypto Credential and Crypto Secure—the company aims to ensure that stablecoin transactions meet the highest standards for security and compliance [1]. This strategic move aligns with broader efforts to drive real-world adoption of tokenized and programmable money across emerging markets, reinforcing Mastercard’s leadership in payments innovation.

Source:

[1] Mastercard Expands Partnership With Circle to Transform Digital Settlement for Merchants and Acquirers in Region (https://www.mastercard.com/news/eemea/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2025-1/august/mastercard-expands-partnership-with-circle-to-transform-digital-settlement-for-merchants-and-acquirers-in-region/)

[2] Mastercard and Circle Enable Stablecoin Settlement in EEMEA Region (https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/mastercard-circle-enable-stablecoin-settlement-eemea-region/)

[3] Mastercard Strengthens Its Ties with Circle in New Stablecoin Settlement Rollout for EEMEA Merchants (https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/08/27/mastercard-strengthens-its-ties-with-circle-in-new-stablecoin-settlement-rollout-for-eemea-merchants/)