Mastercard has expanded its partnership with Circle, introducing the ability to make payments in USDC and EURC stablecoins for acquirers in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) region.
This is reported by Finway
A New Stage for Digital Payments in EEMEA
Thanks to the collaboration between Mastercard and Circle, acquirers in EEMEA countries can now accept payments in USDC and EURC stablecoins. The first participants in this initiative are Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services. This will enable companies to efficiently process transactions in digital currencies issued by Circle.
An acquirer, as explained in the announcement, is a bank or other financial institution that settles with businesses accepting payments from cardholders for goods and services or dispensing cash.
Blockchain Combined with Fiat Payment Channels
The technological foundation of the new initiative is based on blockchain, while the solution is integrated with Mastercard’s traditional fiat payment channels. Participants Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services have already gained the ability to accept payments in USDC and EURC, marking a significant step towards the digitization of financial operations in various countries in the region.
“This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency of cross-border trade and reduce costs, especially for businesses in developing countries.”
Mastercard also announced that it supports the expansion of stablecoin usage worldwide. In addition to USDC, the company is working with other regulated stablecoins, including USDG (Paxos), FIUSD (Fiserv), and PYUSD (PayPal).
Earlier, in February 2025, Mastercard announced that one of the company’s main priorities would be the integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial services.