Visa has launched a pilot program in the United States that enables stablecoin payouts in US dollar–pegged digital currencies to be sent from business accounts funded with traditional fiat money. Announced at the Web Summit in Lisbon, the initiative allows users of Visa Direct — the company’s digital payments network — to send stablecoins such as USDC directly to cryptocurrency wallets.

The company explained that recipients can choose to receive their payments in stablecoins, while U.S.-based businesses can send funds “directly to users’, workers’, or employees’ stablecoin wallets” from their regular accounts. “Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes, not days, for anyone, anywhere in the world,” said Visa’s president of money movement solutions, Chris Newkirk.

Targeting global businesses and gig workers

Visa said it is currently onboarding “select partners” before expanding access to more users in 2026. The pilot primarily targets companies operating across borders and participants in the gig economy, where fast digital transactions are critical. According to Visa’s research, 57% of gig workers prefer digital payment methods to gain quicker access to their earnings.

Expanding blockchain integration amid U.S. regulation

This pilot marks another step in Visa’s broader strategy to integrate blockchain technology into global payments. Earlier in July, the company expanded its stablecoin settlement options by including Global Dollar (USDG), PayPal USD (PYUSD), and Euro Coin (EURC) across the Stellar and Avalanche blockchains. In September, Visa Direct began testing instant settlements using USDC and EURC to streamline treasury operations between businesses.

Visa’s ongoing expansion aligns with a wave of corporate interest in stablecoins following the U.S. approval of the GENIUS Act, a regulatory framework setting clear federal standards for stablecoin operations. Other major financial institutions are following suit, including Citigroup, which is exploring stablecoin-based payment systems, and Western Union, which plans to deploy a digital asset settlement system on the Solana blockchain.

Growing corporate and investor interest in stablecoins

Major Wall Street banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America are also developing early-stage stablecoin initiatives. Meanwhile, startups within the ecosystem continue to attract significant venture capital, including firms such as Telcoin, Hercle, and Arx Research.

With the global stablecoin market now exceeding $300 billion, Visa’s latest initiative reinforces its commitment to building faster, more inclusive, and blockchain-driven financial systems.

Sources:

https://corporate.visa.com/en/solutions/commercial-solutions/knowledge-hub/2025-visa-creators-report.html

https://cointelegraph.com/news/visa-stablecoin-fiat-funded-payout-pilot

https://defillama.com/stablecoins