Visa is expanding its decentralized payment infrastructure footprint once again. The global payments network has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation to explore integrating blockchain technology into conventional financial systems.
The agreement covers three areas of development: digital payment solutions, transaction infrastructure upgrades, and advanced financial services. The collaboration aims to create more efficient settlement mechanisms. However, they set one strict condition: participating institutions will not be required to replace their long-standing legacy technology foundations.
Targeting One Billion Users
The ADI Foundation operates as a distributed ledger technology (DLT) foundation legal entity. It is officially registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market under the DLT Foundations Regulations 2023. Established by Sirius International Holding - a technology subsidiary of conglomerate International Holding Company - the foundation positions ADI Chain as an institutional-grade blockchain.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, ADI Chain is purpose-built to facilitate stablecoin transactions and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). This cross-continental collaboration aligns with ADI’s long-term roadmap. By 2030, the foundation aims to connect one billion people and institutions to the digital economy. To support this foundation, ADI has brought together a roster of high-profile collaborators, including BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton.
What Has Not Been Disclosed
Although the memorandum of cooperation has been signed, technical details remain scarce. To date, neither party has announced the chosen blockchain architecture, specific stablecoins, or final settlement asset standards to be adopted. No testing timelines or target launch dates have been made public either.
Money Moves on Weekends
For Visa, this maneuver in the Arab region adds another layer to its rapidly growing payment network. The company’s infrastructure currently supports stablecoin-based settlement across more than 160 different programs. Year-to-date, Visa’s stablecoin transaction volume has surged roughly 200%, reaching an annualized run rate of $20 billion.
The round-the-clock settlement capability was recently demonstrated in a pilot program. British bank Lloyds used the USDC stablecoin to settle a $750,000 obligation to Visa. The trial ran for a full week, with all transactions executed on Saturday and Sunday - bypassing the operating hour limitations of traditional banking systems.
Integration efforts continue to expand. Visa has partnered with South Korea’s Shinhan Financial and Dunamu to pilot stablecoin payment flows in Asia, alongside collaborations with Brale and Canton Network. Institutional players are steadily shifting transaction traffic onto public blockchain networks, well before legacy systems are fully phased out.
Reported by crypto.news.
Also read: What Is DeFi (Decentralized Finance)?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
