Visa Pilots Stablecoin Payouts to Speed Up Global Creator Payments

Highlights:

• Visa pilots stablecoin payouts to offer instant access to funds for global creators and freelancers.
• The pilot enables fiat-funded payments to USDC wallets through Visa Direct.
• A wider rollout is expected in 2026 as regulatory clarity improves.

During the Web Summit, credit card giant Visa unveiled a major pilot, allowing businesses to send payouts directly to stablecoin wallets. This new program enables creators, gig workers, and freelancers to receive payment in USD-related stablecoins such as USDC. The purpose of this move is to facilitate quicker and more efficient cross-border transactions.

Businesses are now able to finance payments in fiat, and recipients get their cash in digital dollars for the first time. Funds transfer within minutes rather than days through Visa Direct. According to Chris Newkirk, president of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions of Visa, the initiative aims to establish “universal access to money within minutes and not days.”

The Visa 2025 Creator Economy Report by Monetized indicates that 57% of digital creators prefer instant access to earnings. The new pilot is a direct response to that demand, pledging a faster and easier payout experience.

Bringing Stablecoins to Everyday Payments

Visa piloting the stablecoin payouts program is a continuation of Visa’s efforts in blockchain payments. In September, Visa launched pre-funded stablecoin payouts for businesses. The latest pilot goes one step ahead by giving the payments directly to users’ wallets.

Stablecoins are no longer used on the back-end of the treasury but now offer utility to real users in the front-end. Visa also does away with any delay associated with traditional banking hours by allowing direct wallet payouts. The change would potentially change the nature of the payments made to freelancers and international creators.

The stablecoins also offer a secure store of value to those in weak currency countries or those unable to reach banks. All the transactions involving this pilot are stored on the blockchain, thus being transparent and auditable. It implies that businesses and recipients can verify payments immediately without violating the standards of compliance.

Since 2020, Visa has already processed over $140 billion in flows of crypto and stablecoins. These involve crypto purchases and Visa-based spending on the most popular platforms. The company is still growing its position as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain innovation.

Visa’s Expanding Stablecoin Strategy

The stablecoin journey has accelerated with the enactment of the GENIUS Act in the United States, which offers federal regulation of stablecoins. Building on this regulatory advancement, Visa is now focusing on opening up borderless access for digital workers and international enterprises.

Additionally, in the U.S., Visa is piloting a stablecoin payouts program, having already engaged with select partners. Visa, however, plans to expand its rollout by the second half of 2026. The schedule will be based on client requests and the changing regulatory environments.

Over the past few months, Visa has strengthened its partnerships with fintech firms such as Bridge, which is owned by Stripe, and Yellow Card. It also released the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform, which enables banks to mint and burn stablecoins for testing.

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