# Stablecoin Adoption Expands Across Emerging Market Payment Corridors

**Published:** 2026-05-26T02:38:00.000Z  
**Topic:** Crypto Adoption  
**Sentiment:** bullish  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/aea712f7-a065-4382-9e8b-a106417a30aa

New partnerships between Circle, Zoth, and Stables aim to scale cross-border stablecoin payments in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to improve efficiency.

Financial technology firms are increasingly integrating stablecoins into cross-border payment networks to address high transaction costs and settlement delays in emerging markets [1]. Recent strategic partnerships across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East aim to provide the regulatory compliance and liquidity infrastructure necessary for institutional-grade digital asset transfers [2, 3].

**Key takeaways**
* Circle has partnered with Sasai Fintech to integrate USDC into African payment corridors, targeting remittances and business transactions [1].
* Zoth and Bakkt have formed a partnership to provide a US-licensed framework for stablecoin payments across South Asia and the Middle East [2].
* Stables is collaborating with t-0 Network to improve settlement capabilities and liquidity for USDT transactions in Asia [3].
* Asia currently accounts for approximately 60% of global stablecoin payment flows, though the regional infrastructure remains fragmented [3].
* Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 52% increase in crypto adoption in the 12 months leading to June 2025, with over $205 billion in onchain value received [1].

## Building Infrastructure for Global Remittances
The push for stablecoin integration is driven by a need to bypass the inefficiencies of traditional financial systems. In Africa, where remittance costs in several nations exceeded 7% in 2023, Circle is working with Sasai Fintech to utilize its USDC stablecoin to lower costs and speed up settlement times [1]. This effort aligns with broader regional growth, as Sub-Saharan Africa recorded over $205 billion in onchain value through June 2025, with Nigeria leading the activity [1].

In Asia and the Middle East, the focus is on overcoming regulatory hurdles and liquidity constraints. Zoth, a stablecoin neobank, has entered an agreement with Bakkt to leverage its US money transmitter licenses, providing a compliant pathway for enterprise clients to move funds across borders [2]. Meanwhile, the platform Stables is addressing the fragmentation of the Asian market by partnering with t-0 Network, which will serve as a settlement layer to support high-volume USDT transactions [3]. According to Stables, while Asia represents a significant portion of global stablecoin flows, the lack of fully licensed orchestration platforms has historically hindered institutional growth [3].

## Why it matters
The transition from pilot programs to production-scale stablecoin payments depends on solving two primary challenges: regulatory compliance and reliable liquidity [2, 3]. By securing licensed partners and specialized settlement networks, these companies aim to provide the institutional-grade infrastructure that traditional financial institutions require to adopt blockchain-based transfers [2, 3]. As these corridors mature, stablecoins are increasingly positioned as a faster, lower-cost alternative to traditional cross-border financial services, particularly in regions where remittances are essential to the local economy [1].

## Sources
1. CoinTelegraph — [Circle taps African fintech Sasai to expand USDC adoption in cross-border payments](https://cointelegraph.com/news/circle-taps-african-fintech-sasai-to-expand-usdc-adoption-in-cross-border-payments)
2. Business Insider — [Zoth Enters into Strategic Partnership MOU with Bakkt to Enable Compliant Cross-Border Stablecoin Payments Across South Asia and MENA, Scaling its Total Payments Volume to $1 ...](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/zoth-enters-into-strategic-partnership-mou-with-bakkt-to-enable-compliant-cross-border-stablecoin-payments-across-south-asia-and-mena-scaling-its-total-payments-volume-to-1-billion-annually-1036122814)
3. Markets Insider — [Stables Accelerates Stablecoin Adoption With t-0 Network, Unlocking Institutional-Grade Liquidity Across Asia](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/stables-accelerates-stablecoin-adoption-with-t-0-network-unlocking-institutional-grade-liquidity-across-asia-1036143104)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Stablecoin Adoption Expands Across Emerging Market Payment Corridors", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/aea712f7-a065-4382-9e8b-a106417a30aa