Visa Tests Stablecoin Settlements for Cross-Border Payments
Visa is testing a pilot program allowing businesses to fund cross-border payments using stablecoins, such as Circle's USDC and EURC. This initiative targets banks and remittance providers that currently lock up significant capital in multiple currencies to cover international payouts. By pre-funding their Visa Direct accounts with stablecoins, these businesses can access immediate disbursement, reducing settlement times from days to minutes.
The pilot program is part of Visa's efforts to expand its stablecoin infrastructure, which includes partnerships with Bridge and Yellow Card. Chris Newkirk, Visa's President of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, stated that cross-border payments have relied on outdated infrastructure for too long and that this integration creates the groundwork for instant global money movement.
The limited availability of this feature is expected by April 2026, although Visa declined to name specific partners participating in the early testing phase. This move follows the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act, which established federal regulations for stablecoin issuers.