• Visa is exploring stablecoin settlement with Aquanow as it seeks to accelerate cross-border payments.
• The partnership provides global banks and other institutions with cheaper digital settlement options compared to existing ones.
• The technology offered by Aquanow will enhance the infrastructure of Visa as the use of stablecoins keeps rising in the world of finance.

Visa, the popular payment settlement firm, has expanded its stablecoin settlement program across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The move comes through a new partnership with Aquanow.

The update strengthens Visa’s push to modernize cross-border payments with digital assets. It also positions stablecoins as a core tool for faster and more efficient settlement.

Visa Scales Settlement for Institutions

According to the payment solutions company, the new integration will let banks and issuers settle transactions in approved stablecoins. The approved ones include USDC. This action increases the visibility of the stablecoin settlement market, as demand for less expensive and quicker transfers keeps growing.

The firm also indicated that the new technology will cause its operations to have less friction, and facilitate 24/7 settlement. In 2023, Visa began creating the functions of these fiat-pegged tokens and became one of the first big networks to make transactions in digital dollars. Visa said its initial tests were satisfactory, and the company will clear stablecoin payments valued at over $2.5 billion in a full year. 

This new partnership is the next step in that direction as institutions pursue more transparent and programmable settlement options.

Also Read | Wirex and Stellar Launch Real-Time Stablecoins Settlement With Visa Integration

Visa and Aquanow Progress Faster Digital Settlements

Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s Head of Product and Solutions in the CEMEA region, said the collaboration would assist financial institutions. He explained that it will help them adopt settlement processes that are much faster and easier.

According to him, the inclusion of stablecoins into the Visa network would decrease the use of outdated systems that involve several middlemen. Sullivan added that the company is positioning its partners for a future where money travels at high speed and with clarity across borders. 

Aquanow CEO Phil Sham said Visa already ensures total security when completing financial transactions through its global system. However, the partnership establishes novel forms of participation for institutions within the digital economy. He added that stablecoin settlement has the speed and clarity of the internet, which many companies now desire in their financial operations.

Visa and Aquanow Strengthen Stablecoin Infrastructure Globally

Visa reported that the expansion is in line with its larger mission of connecting people, merchants, and institutions using secure digital payment systems. The firm has already realized this mission in over 200 countries.

Visa is also convinced that broadening settlement in this token will enable companies to work with reduced costs. Furthermore, the firm expects that the transition will boost the need for payment frameworks in the future. Aquanow also aims to partner with more traditional firms to make this type of settlement a standard of financial infrastructure.

Also Read | Visa’s Stablecoin Pilot Breakthrough Enables Instant Payouts