Visa Adds Five Blockchains to Global Stablecoin Settlement Infrastructure

The payments company expanded its stablecoin settlement network to include Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo, broadening the blockchain rails used for cross-border digital dollar transfers.

Summary

Visa has added five more blockchain networks to its global stablecoin settlement infrastructure: Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo. The update expands the payment company’s use of blockchain-based settlement rails for stablecoins, which are digital tokens designed to maintain a fixed value, typically to the U.S. dollar. Stablecoin settlement infrastructure allows institutions to move tokenized dollar value on blockchain networks with faster transfer times and continuous availability compared with some traditional payment systems. The announcement indicates that Visa is widening the number of supported chains rather than relying on a single network, a move that can improve interoperability, increase network choice, and support broader institutional use of blockchain-based payments.

Terms & Concepts
  • Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, often by being pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar.
  • Settlement infrastructure: The systems and rails used to finalize transfers between parties, ensuring funds or assets are officially delivered.
  • Blockchain: A distributed digital ledger that records transactions across a network, allowing transfers to be verified without a central database.