Visa Rolls Out Stablecoin Pilot for Global Payments

The global payments company, Visa,  has launched a pilot program through Visa Direct, allowing businesses to prefund payouts using stablecoins instead of traditional fiat. It’s a small technical shift that could carry big implications for how companies move money internationally especially in a digital-first economy where speed and liquidity are critical.

For years, cross-border payments have been plagued by delays, tied-up capital, and outdated infrastructure. Visa has stepped in to address this issue by introducing stablecoins as the key to solving such problems.

“Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long,” said Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa.
“Visa Direct’s new stablecoin integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.”

In the current system, companies often have to pre-position large sums of money in different markets to ensure smooth payments  effectively locking up working capital they could be using elsewhere. Visa’s pilot introduces a workaround: prefunding global payouts with stablecoins, such as USDC, sent directly to Visa.

Instead of relying on slow, multi-day settlement cycles, the stablecoin acts as an instant, verifiable source of funds. Visa treats it as “money in the bank,” and the funds become available for cross-border disbursements in minutes, not days.

The Key benefits, according to Visa Include;

• Faster access to liquidity : Stablecoin prefunding frees businesses from parking large fiat balances in advance, keeping capital working while still ensuring payouts are covered.
•  Modernized treasury: Institutions can move money in minutes instead of days, making liquidity management more dynamic and responsive.
•  Predictability: Stablecoins provide a consistent settlement layer, reducing exposure to local currency volatility and stabilizing treasury operations.
•  Lower cost: Increase pre-funding frequency without increasing costs

Businesses send Visa stablecoins instead of fiat to cover payouts. Visa treats those stablecoins as “money in the bank. This pilot is designed for banks, remittance companies, and other financial institutions that routinely manage international payouts and require flexible, real-time liquidity options. It’s currently limited to select partners, with plans to expand the program in 2026 based on pilot outcomes.

While still in its early stages, the move reflects Visa’s larger bet on blockchain as part of the financial system’s evolution. The company has already explored blockchain rails for settlements and continues to partner with fintechs and payment providers around programmable money use cases.

“This pilot builds on our broader commitment to building the future of money movement,” the company said in a statement.