- Visa’s new stablecoin pilot lets banks use USDC and EURC as cash equivalents for instant global payouts.
- The system unlocks working capital, reduces currency risks, and enables 24/7 treasury flows.
- The pilot follows Swift’s blockchain settlement project, signaling growing momentum for stablecoin adoption in global finance.
Visa just made a big move at SIBOS 2025, revealing a new stablecoin pilot program. The project lets banks, remittance services, and financial institutions use USDC and EURC as pre-funded assets for cross-border payouts. The idea is simple—replace outdated, slow systems with near-instant transfers while giving businesses more control over liquidity.
Why Visa Is Betting on Stablecoins
Chris Newkirk, Visa’s president of commercial and money movement solutions, put it bluntly: “Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long.” By treating stablecoins as cash equivalents, Visa aims to cut down the need for parked capital and modernize treasury flows. This means more predictable payments, fewer delays, and less exposure to currency volatility.
How the Pilot Works
The pilot lets participants pre-fund Visa Direct with stablecoins instead of fiat. That means no more tying up traditional currencies across corridors. The benefit? More working capital available, especially during weekends or off-hours when banks typically stall. So far, Visa says it has already settled $225 million in stablecoin volume, though that’s still tiny compared to its $16 trillion in annual payments.
Wider Context: The Race for Digital Payments
Visa’s announcement comes just a day after Swift revealed its collaboration with Consensys and over 30 global banks to build a blockchain-based settlement system. At the same time, stablecoin startups are booming: RedotPay hit unicorn status after a $47M raise, and Bastion pulled in $14.6M with backing from Coinbase Ventures, Sony, Samsung Next, and more. Together, these moves suggest a race to rewire global money flows is officially underway.
