Visa Launches Stablecoin Pilot for Cross-Border Payments via Visa Direct

Visa (V) has initiated a groundbreaking pilot program for pre-funded stablecoin transactions through its Visa Direct real-time payments platform. This innovation enables businesses to conduct cross-border transfers without maintaining large fiat currency balances in advance. According to Tuesday's announcement, the payment giant aims to minimize transaction friction, accelerate liquidity access, and provide financial institutions with enhanced flexibility in managing global payouts. Companies can now pre-fund their Visa Direct accounts using stablecoins instead of traditional fiat currencies, with Visa treating these digital assets as verified "money in the bank" for immediate payout availability. Visa continues to expand its stablecoin initiatives alongside other traditional financial (TradFi) payment providers, leveraging crypto tokens pegged to fiat currencies. This strategic move responds to growing institutional interest as major jurisdictions implement comprehensive regulatory frameworks for stablecoin operations.