Visa and AquaNow Upgrade Payment Infrastructure through Stablecoin Integration

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) has broadened its stablecoin settlement services across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) by joining forces with AquaNow, a digital asset platform focused on liquidity and infrastructure. This partnership brings together AquaNow’s technology and Visa’s global payments network, allowing financial institutions to complete settlements using approved stablecoins such as

. The initiative is designed to cut costs, minimize operational barriers, and speed up settlement processes, providing a swifter alternative to conventional systems that .

This collaboration builds on Visa’s 2023 pilot, which enabled clients to settle in USDC. Since its launch, the program has reached an annualized transaction volume of $2.5 billion. Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s Head of Product and Solutions for CEMEA, noted that this marks progress in updating the “back-end rails of payments,” reducing dependence on legacy systems and equipping institutions for the future of money transfers

. Phil Sham, CEO of AquaNow, pointed out that leveraging stablecoins could unlock new opportunities in the digital economy by bringing “the speed and transparency of the internet” .

Visa’s overall approach involves supporting a range of stablecoins and blockchains within its settlement platform. Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships, highlighted the company’s aim to build a “multicoin and multichain foundation” to meet the needs of partners worldwide. This strategy was echoed during Visa’s Q3 2025 earnings call, where CEO Ryan McInerney spoke about the rising demand for stablecoins in cross-border payments and the significance of

crypto cards in enabling spending .

This partnership also mirrors a broader industry movement, with major firms like Mastercard exploring stablecoin adoption. AquaNow’s experience in Canadian crypto infrastructure, especially its work connecting trading platforms to global markets, makes it a pivotal player in this transition.

that this alliance could let banks and merchants settle payments almost instantly, eliminating the usual 5–7-day processing period.

Regulatory progress further highlights the sector’s momentum. For example, Canada’s QCAD Digital Trust has recently secured approval for a compliant Canadian dollar stablecoin, reflecting a more mature regulatory environment for digital assets

. Nonetheless, challenges persist, such as price swings and limited investor protections, .

With stablecoins expected to transform global payments, Visa’s latest expansion underscores its dedication to innovation. The company’s infrastructure now accommodates more than 25 fiat currencies worldwide, strengthening its leadership in digital money movement. As Sullivan remarked, the partnership with AquaNow is a “key step” in redefining how institutions engage with the changing financial landscape

.