Visa has taken another step toward integrating digital assets into mainstream payments through a new partnership with stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK. The agreement allows Visa Direct, the company’s real-time payments network, to support stablecoin-funded payouts and settlements in select markets.
The announcement, made Wednesday, positions stablecoins as an operational component of Visa’s $1.7 trillion money movement network. Businesses in approved regions can pre-fund payouts with stablecoins and send funds directly to recipients’ digital wallets rather than relying solely on fiat currency transfers.
Visa Direct already supports fast payouts for payroll, gig economy platforms, and cross-border remittances. The addition of stablecoin settlement introduces an alternative payment rail that operates outside traditional banking hours and clears funds almost instantly.
According to a Business Wire release, BVNK will provide the backend infrastructure that enables stablecoin movement and settlement across the Visa Direct platform.
How the integration works in practice
Under the partnership, certain Visa Direct business customers can fund payouts using stablecoins rather than only fiat currencies. End recipients can also receive payments in stablecoins, which places digital dollars directly into their wallets.
BVNK processes more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments annually and operates across more than 130 countries. Its role centers on settlement infrastructure rather than consumer-facing payments, which aligns with Visa’s focus on enterprise-scale money movement.
The companies stated that the rollout will begin in markets with strong demand for digital asset payments. Wider expansion depends on customer demand and regulatory approval.
Visa described the move as part of a broader effort to modernize global money movement through alternative settlement methods.
“Stablecoins are an exciting opportunity for global payments, with enormous potential to reduce friction and expand access to faster, more efficient payment options,” said Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global head of product in the statement.
A relationship built over time
The partnership reflects a longer strategic relationship between Visa and BVNK rather than a sudden pivot. Visa Ventures invested in BVNK in May 2025, signaling early institutional confidence in the company’s infrastructure model. Citigroup followed with a strategic investment five months later.
Visa has also explored stablecoin settlement well before this announcement. The company disclosed plans in 2021 to support USD Coin settlements on its network. In December last year, Visa allowed banks and financial institutions to settle transactions in USDC.
Despite those early moves, stablecoin adoption across large payment networks faced initial friction. Regulatory uncertainty, compliance requirements, and inconsistent demand across regions limited large-scale deployment. Cross-border payments also raised questions around custody, consumer protection, and jurisdictional approval.
The BVNK integration addresses some of those challenges by offering infrastructure designed specifically for enterprise settlement rather than retail speculation.
“This partnership is unlocking a new layer of payment innovation where stablecoins will be embedded directly into the world’s most trusted payments network,” said Jesse Hemson-Struthers, CEO of BVNK. “It will give businesses and end consumers more choice in how and when they receive and send their funds.”
Hemson-Struthers also emphasized that the company views stablecoins as foundational infrastructure rather than a niche product.
“Visa and BVNK both believe in the transformational potential of stablecoin technology, not just as a payment method, but as a powerful layer of payments infrastructure,” he said.
Regulatory backdrop shapes next steps
The announcement comes amid increased regulatory activity around stablecoins in the United States. Lawmakers recently approved the GENIUS Act, which focuses on stablecoin oversight. Broader market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act, remains under consideration in Congress.
Visa stated that broader rollout of its stablecoin services will depend on regulatory approval and customer adoption in each jurisdiction. The company confirmed that BVNK will help scale Visa Direct’s stablecoin features only in approved markets.
According to reporting that cited the joint announcement, Visa views stablecoins as a tool that supports faster cross-border payments and access to funds outside standard banking hours rather than a replacement for existing rails.
As large payment networks continue to test blockchain-based settlement, Visa’s partnership with BVNK places stablecoins closer to everyday financial operations, though expansion will remain measured and market-driven.
Oleksii Shumak
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