- Mastercard and Circle enable USDC and EURC stablecoin settlement for payment processors in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA).
- The first companies using this initiative are Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services.
- The program allows merchants in EEMEA to receive payments in fully-reserved stablecoins, providing real-time transaction settlements.
- USDC’s overall supply reached $65.2 billion by August 2025, up 90% year-over-year.
- The partnership aims to connect blockchain-based assets directly to traditional business infrastructure across emerging markets.
Mastercard and Circle have begun processing settlements using the USDC and EURC stablecoins for acquirers in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This move enables these financial institutions to settle transactions in digital currencies that are backed 1:1 by reserve assets, marking the first such program in the EEMEA region. The first payment processors to join are Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services.
This development expands on earlier crypto payment solutions, letting acquiring institutions provide real-time, stablecoin-based settlement for merchants. As of August 2025, USDC’s total supply stands at about $65.2 billion, representing a 90% increase from the previous year.
“This is a key move for Mastercard. Our strategic goal is to integrate stablecoins into the financial mainstream by investing in the infrastructure, governance, and partnerships to support this exciting payment evolution from fiat to tokenized and programmable money,” said Dimitrios Dosis, President of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard.
Kash Razzaghi, Chief Business Officer at Circle, stated, “Expanding USDC settlement across Mastercard’s vast network of acquirers in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is a pivotal step toward truly borderless, real-time commerce.” Real-time settlements reduce the delays related to traditional payment processing, which helps merchants operate more efficiently.
Samer Soliman, CEO of Arab Financial Services, highlighted, “As the first acquirer in the region to pioneer USDC stablecoin settlement, we are delivering a strategic and transformative solution. This innovation provides the future-ready infrastructure our clients need to stay competitive.” The initiative positions both Mastercard and Circle at the front of payment modernization in emerging economies.
The partnership is designed to lower transaction times and costs for high-volume payments. By connecting stablecoins like USDC and EURC to mainstream business operations, Mastercard and Circle aim to provide seamless, cross-border commerce solutions in EEMEA.
For more on the leadership team at Mastercard, visit here. Further information about Circle’s leadership can be found here. Details on Arab Financial Services are available on LinkedIn.
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