Visa, the global digital payments giant, has announced a major expansion of its stablecoin initiatives across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), alongside a new strategic partnership with African fintech firm Yellow Card. The move signals Visa’s deepening commitment to blockchain-based payment infrastructure and its belief in stablecoins as a critical tool for the future of global money movement.
The latest developments aim to accelerate Visa’s stablecoin settlement capabilities in the CEMEA region, bringing enhanced speed, security, and liquidity management to cross-border transactions. In particular, Visa is enabling selected issuers and acquirers in the region to settle transactions using USD Coin (USDC), a digital dollar stablecoin issued on public blockchains.
“By 2025, every institution that moves money will need a stablecoin strategy,” said Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Head of Product and Solution for CEMEA. “Stablecoins are evolving from speculative assets to foundational tools for real-time, borderless value exchange. Visa is positioned to help the ecosystem transition with the scale and reliability our partners expect.”
Visa first piloted stablecoin settlements in 2023 and has since processed over $225 million in volume using USDC across its participating clients. The system enables 365-day settlements, including weekends and holidays—an advantage over traditional infrastructure that typically avoids non-banking days.
The company’s partnership with Yellow Card, a major player in the African fintech ecosystem, takes these efforts further. Operating in over 20 African countries, Yellow Card offers cryptocurrency exchange services and is licensed to operate in several key markets across the continent. Together, the two firms will explore how stablecoins can streamline treasury operations and create new cross-border remittance options.
The initiative also includes potential integration with Visa Direct, Visa’s real-time push payment platform. Visa Direct supports secure money transfers to over 190 countries, and the integration of blockchain technologies could further reduce cost and friction in international payments.
Chris Maurice, CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Card, said the collaboration highlights how traditional and digital finance can complement each other: “Together with Visa, we’re building a bridge between legacy finance and the future of money movement. This partnership allows us to bring more secure, efficient, and transparent solutions to people and businesses across Africa.”
Industry analysts view Visa’s ongoing investment in stablecoins as a significant marker of institutional acceptance. As regulatory clarity on digital assets improves globally, companies like Visa are moving quickly to shape the next era of financial infrastructure.
With its expanded focus in the CEMEA region and a high-impact partner in Yellow Card, Visa’s stablecoin strategy is positioning the network not only as a payments processor, but as a key architect in the evolving digital economy.
