Visa has begun testing a new feature that allows companies to send stablecoins directly to users’ cryptocurrency wallets. The new service is set to meet the surging demand for fiat-backed digital assets among freelancers and digital creators in emerging markets.
Digital platforms such as TikTok, Uber and DoorDash use stablecoins to pay content creators and gig workers around the world. The new service will help make payments to suppliers and contractors pegged to the US dollar.
The pilot project is being implemented as part of the Visa Direct instant payment platform, which covers 195 countries. USDC, a stablecoin backed by the US dollar and issued by Circle Internet Group, is used as a means of payment. In 2025, USDC recorded an estimated on-chain transaction volume of approximately $1.6 trillion, making it one of the most actively used dollar-backed stablecoins globally.
To receive payments in stablecoins, users must have a compatible cryptocurrency wallet, undergo identity verification (KYC) and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.
The company launches the pilot project in partnership with selected platforms. Widespread implementation is planned for the second half of 2026, as customer demand grows and the regulatory framework develops.
Mark Nielsen, head of Visa’s commercial and money transfer products, noted: ‘We are not choosing a winner. We want senders and recipients to have maximum flexibility. Now they can receive payments to a card, bank account, or crypto wallet with stablecoins.’
Fintech companies are promoting stablecoins as a safe alternative for storing funds, especially in countries with unstable currencies. These digital assets are backed by the US dollar and reserves in the form of short-term bonds and cash.
According to a Visa study, 57% of respondents cited speed as the main factor when choosing digital payment methods in the content creation industry. That confirms the growing interest in stablecoins as a means of instant international payments.
In countries such as Bolivia, where inflation has reached record levels, the use of stablecoins has skyrocketed. As Nielsen explained, people want to be paid in stablecoins because their local currency is not stable enough.
Over the past year, the company has significantly ramped up its digital asset projects, aided by the passage of the GENIUS Act in the United States this summer, which regulates the market for dollar-backed stablecoins. The Act is one of the first major federal cryptocurrency laws in US history and carries significant implications for the digital industry.
Since 2020, Visa has processed more than $140 billion in transactions related to cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Of these, $100 billion went to purchases of digital assets using cards, and $35 billion went to payments for goods and services. The annual volume of stablecoin transactions through the company’s services is approximately $2.5 billion.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, spending on cards linked to stablecoins increased fourfold compared to the same period last year, states Forklog. To date, Visa supports more than 130 stablecoin-related programmes in 40 countries.
When asked by The Block about the possible launch of its own stablecoin, a Visa representative replied: ‘In this ecosystem, it is difficult to rule out any scenarios.’
However, in the short term, the company will focus on scaling existing solutions: integrating stablecoins with cards, payment instruments and banking services. In October alone, Visa added support for four stablecoins on four different blockchains. The company also partnered with Bridge, a subsidiary of Stripe, to issue cards linked to digital assets.
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