Visa and Aquanow Modernize Payment Rails with Stablecoins in CEMEA

Visa Inc. is deepening its commitment to stablecoin technology in the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region through a strategic partnership with Aquanow, a digital assets platform according to Nasdaq. The collaboration aims to enhance Visa's stablecoin settlement capabilities, enabling financial institutions to process transactions using approved stablecoins such as USDC. Godfrey Sullivan, Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA at Visa, emphasized that the partnership represents a "key step in modernizing the back-end rails of payments," reducing reliance on traditional systems with multiple intermediaries and preparing institutions for the future of money movement according to Nasdaq. This move aligns with growing global interest in stablecoins as tools for efficient, 365-day settlement and cross-border transactions.

The expansion of stablecoin infrastructure in CEMEA is gaining momentum, with other regional developments underscoring the technology's potential. In Abu Dhabi, Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin has been recognized as an "Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token" by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), allowing licensed entities to use it for regulated activities according to Coinpedia. Similarly, Deutsche Börse Group, a major European market infrastructure provider, announced plans to integrate the EURAU euro-pegged stablecoin issued by AllUnity, further embedding institutional-grade stablecoins into its financial services ecosystem according to Cointelegraph. These initiatives highlight a broader trend of financial institutions adopting stablecoins to streamline operations and meet evolving regulatory frameworks.

Regulatory clarity is playing a pivotal role in shaping the stablecoin landscape. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently launched a specialized cohort within its Regulatory Sandbox to test stablecoin products, signaling a proactive approach to fostering innovation while managing risks according to Yahoo Finance. In contrast, the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has already established a comprehensive framework, which came into full effect in December 2024. Meanwhile, the U.S. passed landmark stablecoin legislation in July 2025, further solidifying its position as a regulatory leader. These efforts aim to balance innovation with consumer protection, addressing concerns such as systemic risk and transparency that have historically hindered stablecoin adoption.

The integration of stablecoins into mainstream financial infrastructure is also being driven by demand for faster, lower-cost transactions. Visa's 365-day settlement capability, enabled by its partnership with Aquanow, directly addresses pain points in traditional payment systems, such as delays caused by intermediary banks. This aligns with broader industry shifts toward tokenization, as seen in Deutsche Börse's EURAU integration and the EU's push to tokenize its $19 trillion asset management industry according to Yahoo Finance. For businesses and consumers, the benefits are clear: reduced transaction costs, enhanced liquidity, and the ability to operate in real-time financial ecosystems.

Looking ahead, the success of these initiatives will depend on continued regulatory alignment and technological interoperability. While challenges such as cross-border compliance and market fragmentation persist, the growing collaboration between traditional financial institutions and stablecoin platforms suggests a maturing ecosystem. As Sullivan noted, the partnership with Aquanow is not just about innovation but about "preparing institutions for the future of money movement" according to Nasdaq. With regulators and market leaders increasingly embracing stablecoins, the CEMEA region appears poised to become a key hub for the next generation of digital finance.