A major shift is happening in global payments as Mastercard and Circle launch USDC and EURC settlement across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to a joint press release issued August 26. For the first time, acquirers and merchants in the region can now complete transactions directly in stablecoins.
The move answers a growing demand for faster, cheaper, and safer digital settlement in rapidly expanding markets. It also shows how blockchain and traditional finance are merging in real time.
As per the announcement, Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services will be the first institutions to use the new capability. The partnership allows them to settle merchant payments directly in USDC or EURC, stablecoins fully backed and issued by Circle’s regulated affiliates. They can then pay merchants in these tokens, reducing friction, cutting settlement costs, and improving liquidity for businesses.
Driving Stablecoin Adoption
Besides creating efficiency for merchants, Mastercard is making a wider push to integrate stablecoins into everyday financial systems. Dimitrios Dosis, Mastercard’s regional president, said, “Our strategic goal is to integrate stablecoins into the financial mainstream by investing in infrastructure, governance, and partnerships.”
Moreover, Circle Chief Business Officer Kash Razzaghi called the development a key step. He said the expansion will bring “truly borderless, real-time commerce” and allow USDC to reach more markets worldwide.
Additionally, Arab Financial Services CEO Samer Soliman stressed that this solution directly meets market needs for “greater liquidity and operational efficiency.” At the same time, Nayef Al Alawi, CEO of Eazy Financial Services, described it as a milestone for building faster and more secure payments for merchants and consumers.
A Broader Push for Real-World Use
This deal takes the existing Mastercard-Circle collaborations, like Bybit and S1LKPAY for crypto card settlements, to the next step.
Besides settlements, Mastercard is also pushing stablecoins into everyday use. That includes sending money abroad, paying businesses, and even supporting gig workers through its Multi-Token Network. Along with USDC, Mastercard also supports Paxos’ USDG, Fiserv’s FIUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD.
Moreover, the focus by Mastercard on rules and security gives its system real credibility. Meanwhile, Circle’s stablecoins add the transparency and trust people need when handling money digitally.
With the two coming together, they show that stablecoins can be used by people who are not trading. Stablecoins are getting into mainstream finance, driving global payments and creating opportunities for digital currency.
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