Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlement Across CEMEA
Stablecoins | Dec 1, 2025
Instant Settlement Infrastructure for Global Payment Flows
On November 26 2025, Visa announced an expansion of stablecoin settlement across Central and Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa through a new partnership with Vancouver-based fintech, Aquanow. The integration gives issuers and acquirers on the Visa network the ability to settle transactions in approved stablecoins such as USDC and introduces a settlement rail that clears value faster at lower cost and with fewer operational steps than traditional systems that rely on closing hours and multi-party workflows.
See: Aquanow Unveils the AQN Digital Ventures Fund for Nextgen Blockchain Startups
Visa first used USDC for settlement in 2023 and now records an annualized settlement volume above $2.5 billion proving that institutions are already incorporating stablecoin settlement in daily operations, moving transaction flow across markets and supporting teams that seek real-time settlement, instead of fixed windows.
Aquanow supports Visa's stablecoin expansion with digital asset infrastructure that processes billions of dollars in monthly activity. The company works with banks neobanks brokerages and payment firms, reporting a four year revenue growth rate of 3022%, earning it multi-year recognition as the 8th best Deloitte Technology Fast 50 top companies in 2024.
Faster Settlement For Global Institutions, Banks and Fintechs
Many institutions still work around systems that close on weekends, rely on several intermediaries, and delay the release of funds. These delays hold capital in transit and create uncertainty for teams that manage liquidity each day. Visa and Aquanow address this gap by offering a rail that runs at all hours and clears transactions faster than older cross border settlement paths.
This model reduces operational drag and gives financial institutions, banks and credit unions a clearer view of cash position in markets with uneven settlement conditions.
See: Visa Extends Stablecoin Settlement to Four Blockchains
This supports services that rely on dependable settlement such as global ecommerce platforms marketplace payouts and remittance flows.
- Quicker settlement means treasury teams gain more predictable access to funds
- Payment operators remove steps that slow down processing
- Global processors improve payout cycles across markets that rely on complex bank to bank networks
- Product teams can design services on top of a rail that runs by the clock rather than by local banking windows
- Customer teams can offer faster and more reliable payout times
Aquanow Builds Global Platform Under VARA Regulation
Aquanow launched in Vancouver, Canada and built a global digital asset platform that now powers part of Visa’s settlement expansion. The company maintains a publicly stated money services business registration with FINTRAC on its own website and operates a regulated entity in the United Arab Emirates through Aquanow ME FZE. The UAE entity received approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for broker-dealer services, lending and borrowing, and management and investment services.
Read: Canada Releases The First Draft Of The Stablecoin Act
This structure shows how a Canadian born fintech can scale global settlement infrastructure by operating in markets that provide clear digital asset licensing. It's another great example of the capability of Canadian firms to contribute to global payment modernization, delivering digital settlement capacity within a regulated international environment. It also provides policymakers a reference point for how digital settlement can operate at production scale within clear regulatory frameworks.
Why It Matters
Visa's stablecoin settlement expansion across CEMEA, in partnership with Canadian fintech Aquanow, sets a new expectation for settlement speed and efficiency. Companies and institutions want faster movement of value, lower cost, and better control over liquidity. Digital asset rails deliver these results in ways legacy systems struggle to match. This partnership offers a clear example of modern settlement infrastructure that supports live cross border operations and works inside a regulated environment at scale.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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