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- Visa pilot offers USDC payouts for creators, improving speed and reducing reliance on banks.
- Recipients must complete KYC/AML checks and use compatible stablecoin wallets for payouts.
- Blockchain technology enables faster, more transparent payments, challenging traditional systems.
Visa is further engaging in blockchain finance by introducing a new pilot, which allows creators, freelancers, and gig workers to be paid out in the USDC stablecoin of Circle. The initiative, announced at the Web Summit in Lisbon, will speed up and enhance cross-border payment and eliminate the use of typical banking infrastructure.
The pilot enables U.S. businesses on Visa Direct to pay out in fiat currency, and the recipient has the choice to receive the funds in USDC. With stablecoins, Visa aims to provide a safer and quicker way of paying, particularly in nations with currency issues or a constrained banking network. Visa President of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions Chris Newkirk underlined that its target is to provide universal access to money within minutes rather than days.
Visa USDC Pilot Expansion Plans for 2026
To use it, recipients will require a compatible stablecoin wallet. And complete Know Your Customer (KYC) measures and Anti-Money laundering (AML) checks. The pilot will first assist USDC and will be at the disposal of some business partners. Visa intends to expand in 2026 as regulatory conditions change.
The new program is based on a Visa pilot conducted in September 2025, which enabled businesses to prefund their outlays using stablecoins. Visa is also going after blockchain-based money movement, which provides a transparent and quicker alternative to the traditional payment systems. Every payment is logged into the blockchain, and other advantages such as enhanced auditability and compliance are achieved.
The move into digital assets by Visa has been spurred in recent years. The company has transacted in excess of $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions since 2020. Furthermore, Visa has collaborated with Bridge, operated by Stripe, to issue Visa cards based on stablecoins. The company also introduced the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform, which is intended to assist banks in the pilot issuance and settlement of stablecoins.
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Western Union Joins Stablecoin Movement to Transform Payments
The 2025 Creator Economy Report released by Visa indicates that 57% of digital content creators add that their most important selection factor when selecting a payment method is instant access to funds. Visa is sure that stablecoins can be the key to this demand. Allowing digital creators to get the payouts rapidly and in a stable form.
The pilot further emphasizes the increased interest Visa has in the field of blockchain innovation as being part of its long-term strategy to enhance the global money movement. The firm views blockchain as a means of cutting down on costs, accelerating payments, and offering a more transparent payment system in which money can be sent across borders.
Meanwhile, Western Union also intends to enter the market of stablecoins. In 2026, the firm will introduce the US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) in the Solana blockchain. The token will be useful in lowering fees and enhancing the settlement durations on global remittances. And this is a challenge to the conventional ways of paying. As Visa and Western Union are adopting the blockchain technology, the future of international payments is taking shape.
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