cryptodnes.bg
Visa has unveiled a pilot project designed to test how stablecoins can be integrated into its global payments network.
The effort is intended to shrink settlement times for cross-border transfers from days to minutes, giving businesses faster access to working capital and reducing the need to hold large cash balances in advance.
Under the model, companies such as banks and remittance providers can pre-fund Visa Direct with stablecoins rather than fiat. Visa treats these balances as spendable funds, meaning payouts can be made instantly while recipients continue to receive money in their local currencies. The first tokens in use are USDC and EURC, issued by Circle, though the company has left the door open for more assets as adoption grows.
A Visa spokesperson described the initiative as “real-time, programmable money movement across billions of endpoints,” highlighting its potential to modernize settlement infrastructure. Limited availability of the pilot is expected by April 2026, with select partners already running trials.
While questions remain about whether Visa will issue a stablecoin of its own, the firm stressed that its current focus is scaling integration of existing tokens across its ecosystem, from cards and merchant settlements to direct bank connections.
If the program proves successful, Visa could play a pivotal role in mainstreaming stablecoin usage in everyday global payments.