Mastercard and Circle are deepening their partnership to enable settlement in USDC and EURC stablecoins across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA). This marks a significant milestone—the first time acquiring institutions in the region can settle transactions using stablecoins. The move is poised to reshape the digital payments landscape by merging blockchain technology with traditional financial infrastructure.
First-Ever Stablecoin Settlement in EEMEA
Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services will be the first acquirers in the EEMEA region to adopt this new system. By settling transactions in fully reserved USDC and EURC, financial institutions gain access to faster, more secure, and more efficient digital payments. This approach reduces the friction often associated with cross-border transactions and offers a more reliable alternative to conventional banking rails.
This initiative builds on earlier collaborations between Mastercard and Circle, including crypto-enabled card solutions with platforms like Bybit and S1LKPAY. It also signals a broader shift toward integrating regulated digital assets into the global payments ecosystem.
Unlocking Liquidity and Enhancing Digital Trade
The integration of stablecoins like USDC and EURC brings new efficiencies to emerging markets, particularly where traditional banking services may be limited or slow. By enhancing liquidity and reducing the cost and time of cross-border transactions, the partnership opens new opportunities for merchants and businesses engaged in international trade.
Executives from Mastercard, Circle, and regional financial partners have called the collaboration transformative. Mastercard reaffirmed its commitment to building secure, regulated infrastructure for tokenized money, while Circle emphasized the importance of this milestone in achieving real-time, borderless commerce.
As stablecoins gain wider acceptance, this partnership sets the stage for broader adoption of blockchain-powered payments globally. It not only demonstrates how traditional finance and digital assets can work together but also paves the way for future innovations in the payments industry.
