Visa is intensifying its presence in the stablecoin market in key emerging regions such as Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), representing a strategic move towards financial digitalization and international payments. The alliance with Yellow Card, an African platform with a strong presence on the continent, allows Visa to leverage an already established infrastructure to offer faster, cheaper, and more accessible cross-border payments using stablecoins like USDC.

Key points to consider:

Boost to crypto adoption: This initiative reinforces the legitimacy of stablecoins as a payment instrument in regions with volatile economies or inaccessible banking systems.

Reduction of friction: A significant decrease in the costs and times of international payments is expected, which could impact traditional remittance companies.

Increasing competition: Visa positions itself against rivals such as Mastercard, Ripple, or even central banks that are exploring their own digital currencies.

Regulatory risk: Although there is progress, legal uncertainty in some countries in Africa and the Middle East could limit the pace of expansion.