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Visa Direct Taps Stablecoins for Faster Business Funding
The way businesses fund cross-border payments is about to get faster, smarter, and more flexible.
A New Step for Global Payments
Visa has announced the launch of a stablecoin prefunding pilot through Visa Direct, its global money movement platform that connects 11 billion eligible cards, bank accounts, and wallets.
This new capability introduces a faster way for businesses to move money globally. It aims to unlock liquidity and modernize treasury operations for the digital-first economy.
For decades, cross-border payments relied on slow and costly systems that forced businesses to tie up capital in advance.
The pilot introduces a new funding model that could reduce friction and improve access to liquidity.
What Visa Hopes to Achieve
Through Visa Direct, the company is testing stablecoins as a funding source. The goal is to simplify payments, speed up access to capital, and give financial institutions more flexibility in global payouts.
Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa, explained:
“Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long. Visa Direct’s stablecoin integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.”
Visa Direct Taps Stablecoins for Faster Business Funding
Why It Matters
Liquidity unlocked: Businesses no longer need to park large fiat balances in advance. This keeps capital working while still covering payouts.
Modernized treasury: Institutions can move money in minutes instead of days, making liquidity management faster and more responsive.
Predictability: Stablecoins offer a consistent settlement layer, reducing exposure to currency volatility.
Lower costs: Businesses can increase prefunding frequency without higher expenses.
How the Pilot Works
Stablecoin prefunding: Instead of fiat, businesses send Visa stablecoins to cover payouts. Visa treats these as equivalent to “money in the bank.”
Who it serves: Banks, remitters, and financial institutions seeking faster and more flexible liquidity management.
Rollout: Visa is working with select partners that meet the pilot’s criteria, with plans for a broader launch in 2026.
Looking Ahead
This pilot is part of Visa’s wider mission to build the future of money movement, one that is faster, more flexible, and digital-first.
By combining the scale and trust of its global network with the programmability of blockchain, Visa is positioning itself as a leader in modern cross-border payments.
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