Visa Tests Stablecoin Pilot for Faster Cross-Border Payments
Visa’s stablecoin pre-funding pilot via Visa Direct seeks to reduce friction, improve liquidity, and increase payout flexibility for global enterprises amid rising regulatory clarity.
Fact Check
The statement is strongly confirmed by multiple primary sources, including press releases and corporate pages directly from Visa. Evidence from Visa's partners, such as Crypto.com, Worldpay, Wirex, and Rain, corroborates that they are participating in pilot programs using stablecoins (like USDC and EURC) specifically to improve and speed up cross-border payments and settlements.
Summary
Visa has begun a pre-funding pilot using stablecoins through its Visa Direct real-time payments platform, enabling businesses to pre-fund accounts without holding large fiat balances. The funds, counted as “money in the bank” by Visa, can be used for instant cross-border payouts. The initiative aims to cut payment friction, improve liquidity access, and offer financial institutions greater flexibility in managing global transactions. Visa is accelerating stablecoin adoption as major jurisdictions introduce formal regulatory regimes for these assets.
Terms & Concepts
- Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset, such as a fiat currency, designed to minimize price volatility.
- Visa Direct: Visa’s real-time payments platform enabling fast money transfers and payouts across borders.
- Pre-Funding: Depositing funds in advance to ensure immediate availability for transaction settlement.