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Visa Inc. (Visa) announced on November 12, 2025, that it has launched a pioneering U.S. pilot programme through its Visa Direct platform enabling businesses and platforms to send USD-backed stablecoin payouts directly to recipients’ crypto wallets even though the funding is done in fiat currency.
In practical terms, a company using Visa Direct can initiate a payout from its bank-funded account in U.S. dollars. The recipient such as a freelance creator, gig worker or marketplace user can then receive those funds in a stablecoin like USD Coin (USDC) directly to their crypto wallet, rather than waiting days for a bank transfer or settlement. “Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes not days for anyone, anywhere in the world,” stated Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa.
Why this pilot matters
This move by Visa signals a strong leap into real-world blockchain-based payments. First, it allows businesses to retain the familiar fiat funding side of payouts, while offering recipients the choice of receiving value in a digital asset that is pegged to the U.S. dollar and can be accessed instantly on-chain. According to Visa’s own research, 57 % of digital creators cited faster access to funds as their top reason for choosing digital payment methods.
Second, the pilot is targeted at segments that have historically faced payment delays or friction creators, gig-economy workers and cross-border workers in markets with limited banking infrastructure. By enabling stablecoins, Visa stablecoin payout pilot US businesses USDC via fiat-funded Visa Direct Visa is lowering barriers and reducing settlement lag.
Third, the innovation aligns with broader regulatory and infrastructure shifts. The U.S. legal landscape has recently become more favourable for stablecoins, businesses send stablecoin payouts directly to crypto wallets Visa Nov 2025 providing clearer frameworks for token issuance and payments. Visa’s pilot leverages that momentum and positions the company as a bridge between traditional finance and the blockchain era.
How the pilot works & key features
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Businesses fund payouts in fiat currency as usual. Visa handles the conversion behind the scenes, enabling the recipient to receive stablecoins in their wallet.
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Recipients can choose to hold, convert or spend the stablecoins they receive, potentially faster than traditional banking transfers.
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The initiative begins with a select group of partner platforms. Wider rollout is expected in the second half of 2026 as the infrastructure and regulation mature.
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The pilot emphasises transparency: stablecoin transactions are logged on public blockchains, aiding auditability and compliance.
Implications for payments and crypto adoption
For businesses, this pilot opens the door to faster, global payouts and may reduce costs associated with cross-border bank transfers, currency conversion and settlement delays. For recipients especially freelancers, international contractors and platform-based workers it offers near-instant access to value without bank‐account requirements or extended wait times.
From a crypto-adoption perspective, the announcement is important: mainstream financial firms incorporating stablecoins for real-world use cases helps legitimise digital assets beyond speculation, moving toward utility in payments and payouts. As Visa becomes a conventional gateway into stablecoins for businesses, the infrastructure for broader adoption strengthens.
Key risks and what to watch
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Compliance and regulatory risk remain; stablecoin payouts still must meet KYC/AML standards and be handled with appropriate oversight.
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Recipient wallets and digital asset security need to be robust; users unfamiliar with stablecoins may face usability issues.
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While the pilot funding is fiat-to-stablecoin, full conversion and spending by recipients depends on integration and exchange infrastructure.
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Broader rollout depends on scalability, partner onboarding and regulatory clarity across jurisdictions.
FAQs
Q1: What is Visa’s new stablecoin payout pilot?
A1: Visa’s pilot allows U.S. businesses to fund payouts in fiat currency through Visa Direct, while recipients receive the value in USD-backed stablecoins like USDC, directly into their crypto wallets.
Q2: Who is the pilot designed for?
A2: The pilot is aimed at platforms, businesses and gig-economy operators making payouts to creators, freelancers, marketplaces and workers especially when fast access to funds or cross-border settlement is important.
Q3: Does the business need to fund the payout in stablecoins?
A3: No businesses fund the payout in fiat currency (e.g., U.S. dollars). Visa handles the conversion so the recipient receives the funds as stablecoins.
Q4: What stablecoins are supported?
A4: Visa mentions USD-pegged stablecoins such as USDC as part of the pilot. The exact list may expand as the programme scales.
Q5: When will the pilot expand broadly?
A5: The rollout starts with select partners now and is expected to expand in the second half of 2026, subject to partner onboarding and regulatory readiness.
Q6: What benefits does this offer compared to traditional payouts?
A6: The pilot offers near-instant access to funds, reduced settlement time, flexibility of receiving value in stablecoins (especially for cross-border or under-banked recipients) and transparent blockchain-based transaction records.
