Mastercard is enabling merchants and acquirers across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) to settle transactions using Stablecoins, specifically USDC and EURC, marking a significant step toward integrating Stablecoins into mainstream financial systems. This initiative is made possible through an extended partnership with Circle, the global fintech startup behind the USDC stablecoin, which provides blockchain-powered platforms and services for payments and digital assets. The move reflects Mastercard’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, governance, and partnerships to support digital currency adoption.
The initiative builds on previous collaborations between Circle and Mastercard in the region, including crypto card solutions like Bybit and S1lkPay, which also employ USDC for transaction settlements. Arab Financial Services (AFS) and Middle Eastern Eazypay will be the first to benefit from this expanded capability, enabling acquiring institutions to receive settlements in fully-reserved Stablecoins issued by Circle’s regulated affiliates. This approach lays the groundwork for more efficient, secure, and trusted digital trade across emerging markets.
According to Circle, spreading USDC settlements across Mastercard’s extensive network of acquirers in EEMEA is a crucial step toward borderless, real-time commerce. It enables broader reach, global access, and scalable impact, supporting the vision of Stablecoins becoming as ubiquitous as traditional payment methods. The expansion offers merchants and acquirers a new level of flexibility in settling transactions, while leveraging blockchain technology to drive transparency and operational efficiency.
Dimitrios Dosis, President of Mastercard EEMEA, highlighted the importance of trust in scaling Stablecoin adoption, emphasizing Mastercard’s decades of experience in security and compliance as a foundation for innovation in digital settlements. Nayef Tawfiq Al Alawi, Founder and CEO of EazyPay- Eazy Financial Services B.S.C, added that the collaboration sets a new standard for payment solutions in the region, delivering faster, more secure, and more efficient digital settlement options. This milestone reflects the shared commitment to advancing financial innovation that meets the evolving needs of merchants and consumers alike.
