International payment giant Visa has launched a pilot project that allows direct sending of stablecoins, starting with USDC from Circle. The new mechanism is aimed at instant cross-border payments for freelancers, self-employed, and users of digital platforms.
As part of this “breakthrough” pilot, companies and online services in the US using Visa Direct can send payments in fiat, while recipients can choose to receive funds in USDC. According to Visa, this opens up fast and convenient access to earnings worldwide, especially in countries with unstable currencies or limited access to banking services.
“Launching stablecoin payouts is a step towards enabling everyone to receive money in minutes, not days, wherever they are. Whether it’s a digital content creator, a company entering international markets, or a freelancer working with clients around the world. Everyone benefits from faster and more flexible payments,” said Chris Newkirk, Head of Commercial Solutions and Money Movement at Visa.
Visa clarified that this pilot is a continuation of the company’s work with crypto payments. Previously, in September, they launched a test phase that allowed businesses to pre-fund their payout balances using stablecoins. The new stage goes further: now users can receive funds directly in cryptocurrency.
“In September, Visa Direct launched a pilot with pre-funding. Companies could load funds into the system not only in fiat, but also in stablecoins. This was an innovation at the level of internal financial infrastructure. Now, payouts reach end users. They receive digital dollars directly to their wallets,” Visa stated.
To receive such payments, a user must have a compatible crypto wallet and meet all identification and anti-money laundering (KYC/AML) requirements.
“This means the recipient complies with Visa’s internal protocol and standards,” a company representative explained.
At the first stage, the pilot is launched with a limited number of partners, whose names have not yet been disclosed. The full launch is scheduled for the second half of 2026, by which time client interest and regulatory development are expected to grow. At launch, only USDC will be supported, added Visa.
Visa expands its crypto direction
Visa’s activity in the stablecoin sector has accelerated significantly after the adoption of the GENIUS Act in the US, the first federal law to set clear rules for the stable digital currency market. Experts estimate this segment as a market with trillion-dollar potential.
Since 2020, Visa has processed over $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions. According to CEO Ryan McInerney, Visa users have purchased more than $100 billion in cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, and spent over $35 billion using Visa cards.
“We now have more than 130 card issuance programs linked to stablecoins in over 40 countries. And in the fourth quarter, spending on such cards quadrupled compared to last year. We have expanded the list of supported blockchains and stablecoins, and monthly settlement volumes have already exceeded the annual figure of $2.5 billion,” McInerney noted in the latest report.
Earlier this year, Visa partnered with Bridge, a subsidiary of Stripe, to enable developers to issue cards linked to stablecoins. The company also began working with Yellow Card in Africa to test treasury and liquidity management solutions.
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Last year, Visa introduced the Tokenized Asset Platform, allowing banks to create and “burn” their own stablecoins as part of pilot projects. At the same time, the first tests of stablecoin settlements between card issuers and acquirers began.
According to Ryan McInerney, stablecoins are one of the key elements of Visa‘s strategy, especially for developing countries and cross-border payments, from remittances and B2B transfers to payouts in the freelance economy.
When asked whether the company plans to issue its own stablecoin, a Visa representative replied:
“In the stablecoin ecosystem, nothing can be ruled out.”
At the same time, he emphasized that the current priority is to develop and scale existing scenarios: cards, settlements, integration with banks.
