Mastercard has announced significant strategic partnerships with the ADI Foundation, which specializes in developing and constructing sovereign blockchain infrastructure aimed at governments and institutions, with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. This initiative marks a remarkable step forward in enhancing asset tokenization technologies and expanding stablecoin-based payment solutions across the Middle East.
The collaboration aligns with the UAE’s vision to establish itself as a global hub for digital assets and blockchain technologies, while delivering practical benefits for financial institutions, fintech companies, merchants, and consumers through faster, more transparent, and flexible payment solutions.
Initial areas of cooperation include providing stablecoin settlement services for both local and cross-border payments, developing stablecoin-linked payment cards, and innovative uses for tokenized real assets, in addition to supporting remittances and B2B business flows utilizing digital assets.
Payment Efficiency
Prakriti Singh, Executive Vice President of Core Payments at Mastercard for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, stated, “Mastercard is dedicated to unlocking new possibilities in the digital assets arena through innovation and partnerships. We will collaborate with our partners to develop and test innovative use cases that enhance the efficiency of digital payments. As asset tokenization and stablecoin applications evolve, we empower transactions to be faster, more seamless, and secure, creating reliable bridges between traditional finance and blockchain technologies.”
Practical Solutions
Ajay Bhatia, a key council member at the ADI Foundation, remarked, “Our partnership with Mastercard is a pivotal step toward building a more inclusive and future-ready digital economy, bringing us closer to our goal of integrating one billion people into the digital economy by 2030. By merging high-performance sovereign blockchain infrastructure with Mastercard’s global expertise, we aim to create practical solutions that make a tangible societal impact in emerging markets and vital sectors.”
This development follows the expansion of Mastercard’s partnership with Circle, enabling settlement services in USDC and EURC currencies for businesses receiving payments in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, marking an extraordinary enhancement of the company’s role in supporting commerce based on blockchain technologies.
As part of this progress, both NEO PAY and INFINIOS have joined as the latest partners in this initiative, broadening the reach of stablecoin settlement solutions in the region.
NEO PAY, as a key member of Mastercard and a global partner in enabling fintech, is working towards adopting stablecoins for financing and settlement operations, supporting financial institutions that embrace this technology and enhancing services provided to its partners.
Instant Settlement
Vibhu Monhedada, CEO of NEO PAY, stated, “Stablecoins open a new chapter in digital payments, combining the reliability of traditional currencies with the advantages of blockchain. Our partnership with Mastercard will provide our merchants with instant settlement and broader digital liquidity, connecting everyday financing to advanced decentralized models. At NEO PAY, we are committed to delivering secure, practical, and future-ready payment solutions.”
Sherif Abdelsalam, CEO of INFINIOS, added, “We see stablecoins as a driving force of the next generation of payments, offering speed, transparency, and efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of trust and compliance. Through our collaboration with Mastercard, we are building a secure and scalable ecosystem that empowers businesses and consumers in the Middle East, opening new avenues for cross-border trade.”