Circle partnered with Mastercard to expand USDC payments across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA). The agreement introduces settlement in USD Coin (USDC $0.9997) and Euro Coin (EURC $1.07) for merchants and acquirers.
Mastercard confirmed that the first adopters will be Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services. This marks the first stablecoin settlement option available through Mastercard in the EEMEA region.
The deal embeds USDC payments into Mastercard’s network, giving regional institutions a way to process transactions in stablecoins while customers continue to pay in fiat currencies.
Finastra Adds USDC Payments to Global PAYplus
On the same day, Finastra, a financial software company based in London, integrated USDC payments into its Global PAYplus platform. The platform processes over $5 trillion in cross-border transactions daily.
Through this integration, banks in 50 countries can settle international payments in USDC even when payment instructions remain in fiat. This makes USDC payments available across a wide global banking network.
Circle stated that embedding USDC payments into Finastra’s Global PAYplus allows stablecoin settlement without altering existing systems. The scale of the platform ensures access to USDC payments for many financial institutions worldwide.
Circle Expands USDC After GENIUS Act
The expansion of USDC payments comes after the passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States, signed into law in July 2025. The Act created the first U.S. federal framework for stablecoins, giving Circle a foundation to scale partnerships worldwide.
On July 31, Circle partnered with OKX, a major global crypto exchange, to introduce zero-fee USDC to USD conversions. The deal boosted liquidity and made USDC payments more accessible in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
With this legislation in place, Circle has expanded USDC payments into mainstream financial and banking systems, including its latest partnerships with Mastercard and Finastra.
Circle Focuses on USDC in Asia and Japan
In August, Circle executives met with leaders of South Korea’s four largest banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori. Talks included onchain integration and the possible creation of a won-backed stablecoin.
In Japan, Circle joined SBI Group, Ripple, and Startale in a joint venture to promote USDC adoption. The collaboration also includes developing a platform for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).
These partnerships demonstrate Circle’s strategy to expand USDC payments in Asia, where regulators and banks are considering stablecoin settlement options.
