Visa is accelerating its use of stablecoins for transaction settlements in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) by teaming up with crypto infrastructure firm Aquanow. This new partnership aims to leverage approved stablecoins like USDC for streamlined transactions and faster settlement times. According to Visa, this move responds to growing demand from banks and payment firms for more efficient cross-border payments. By incorporating stablecoins, Visa seeks to modernize the backend of money movement, offering 24/7 settlement capabilities. Godfrey Sullivan, head of product and solutions for the CEMEA region at Visa, highlighted that this integration offers significant benefits for institutions in the area by enabling faster and simpler settlements. He emphasizes the partnership’s importance as a key step towards modernizing payment systems, reducing reliance on traditional methods with multiple intermediaries, and preparing institutions for future financial transactions.