In a significant advancement for digital payments, Visa has announced the expansion of its stablecoin settlement capabilities to include merchant acquirers—marking a pivotal evolution in how global commerce moves money. By integrating Circle’s USDC on both the Ethereum and high-performance Solana blockchains, Visa is enabling faster, more efficient cross-border settlements for financial institutions and merchants alike.
This initiative builds on earlier pilots with issuer partners and now extends to major acquirers Worldpay and Nuvei, allowing them to receive USDC directly from Visa’s treasury operations. The move underscores Visa’s ongoing commitment to modernizing payment infrastructure through blockchain innovation.
Modernizing Cross-Border Settlement with Blockchain
Every time a consumer uses a Visa card at one of the millions of merchant locations worldwide, they experience near-instant transaction authorization. Behind the scenes, however, lies a complex settlement process involving banks (issuers), merchant acquirers, and multi-currency clearing systems.
Traditionally, moving funds across borders has been slow and costly—often requiring days for international wire transfers and multiple intermediaries. Visa’s new stablecoin-powered solution streamlines this by using USDC (a dollar-denominated stablecoin) to settle fiat-pegged transactions on public blockchains.
“By leveraging stablecoins like USDC and global blockchain networks like Solana and Ethereum, we're helping to improve the speed of cross-border settlement and providing a modern option for our clients to easily send or receive funds from Visa’s treasury,” said the Head of Crypto at Visa.
With live pilots already facilitating millions of USDC across Ethereum and Solana, Visa is proving that blockchain can complement traditional financial rails—offering speed, transparency, and reduced operational friction.
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Building on Success: The Crypto.com Pilot
Visa first tested USDC integration in 2021 with Crypto.com, becoming one of the earliest major payment networks to explore stablecoin settlements on the issuance side. The pilot successfully demonstrated that USDC over Ethereum could be used to fulfill cross-border settlement obligations for Crypto.com’s card program.
Previously, these settlements required lengthy currency conversions and expensive SWIFT-based wire transfers. Now, Visa receives USDC directly into a Circle-managed treasury account—dramatically cutting processing time and costs.
This success laid the foundation for broader adoption. Today, Visa uses USDC to meet settlement requirements in select markets and plans to expand the capability globally.
Expanding from Issuers to Acquirers
While initial efforts focused on receiving funds from issuers via blockchain, Visa’s latest phase enables outbound stablecoin payments to merchant acquirers—including Worldpay and Nuvei.
These global acquirers serve diverse businesses, including crypto-native platforms such as on-ramp providers, gaming platforms, and NFT marketplaces. Many of these merchants prefer receiving payments in stablecoins rather than traditional fiat due to faster reconciliation, lower fees, and seamless integration with their digital operations.
Using its own Circle account, Visa can now disburse USDC settlements directly to acquirer partners, who then route the funds to end merchants—preserving the efficiency and flexibility of digital dollars throughout the payment chain.
Why Solana? Speed, Scale, and Efficiency
As demand grew among partners for faster and cheaper settlement options, Visa evaluated next-generation blockchains capable of handling high-volume transaction flows. The result: integration with the Solana blockchain, known for its exceptional performance.
Solana offers:
- 400-millisecond block times
- Average throughput of 400 transactions per second (TPS)
- Surge capacity exceeding 2,000 TPS during peak demand
This makes Solana an ideal network for real-time settlement at scale. With this addition, Visa becomes one of the first large-scale payment companies to utilize Solana for live settlement between clients.
The dual support for Ethereum and Solana allows partners to choose the network that best fits their technical and economic needs—whether prioritizing ecosystem maturity (Ethereum) or raw performance (Solana).
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Strategic Partnerships Driving Innovation
Visa’s collaboration with Worldpay and Nuvei reflects a broader industry shift toward flexible, digital-first settlement solutions.
“Visa's USDC settlement capability enables Worldpay to bring more of our treasury operations in-house and allows us to offer merchants more choices for receiving funds,” said the President of Worldpay Merchant Solutions, FIS. “Diversifying funding options and increasing flexibility is critical to serving the changing needs of global merchants in today’s rapidly evolving commerce landscape.”
Similarly, Nuvei sees stablecoins as transformative tools for online businesses:
“Stablecoins like USDC are cutting-edge payments technology that can enable online businesses around the world to accelerate their growth,” said the Chair and CEO of Nuvei. “We’re excited to work with Visa to bring these capabilities to our partners.”
These partnerships not only validate the utility of stablecoins in mainstream finance but also signal growing demand from enterprises seeking modern alternatives to legacy systems.
Core Keywords Driving Adoption
The strategic integration of blockchain into Visa’s operations revolves around several key themes:
- Stablecoin settlement
- USDC payments
- Cross-border transactions
- Blockchain innovation
- Digital currency integration
- Merchant acquirer solutions
- Solana blockchain
- Real-time settlement
These keywords reflect both technical advancements and shifting market expectations—where speed, cost-efficiency, and interoperability define competitive advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is stablecoin settlement?
Stablecoin settlement involves using digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies (like USDC, which is backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars) to transfer value across borders quickly and securely via blockchain networks.
How does Visa use USDC for payments?
Visa uses USDC to settle cross-border transactions between financial institutions. Instead of relying solely on traditional banking rails, it sends or receives USDC over Ethereum or Solana to streamline fund movement.
Why did Visa choose Solana?
Solana was selected for its high throughput, low latency, and low transaction costs—making it ideal for scaling real-time settlement across a global network of partners.
Can all merchants receive USDC through this system?
Not yet universally—but acquirers like Worldpay and Nuvei can now accept USDC from Visa and distribute it to crypto-ready merchants, especially those in blockchain-based industries.
Is this replacing traditional payment methods?
No. This is a complementary solution designed to enhance flexibility. Traditional fiat settlements remain central, while stablecoins offer an alternative for specific use cases and partners.
Will other stablecoins be supported in the future?
While current efforts focus on USDC in partnership with Circle, Visa has previously explored other digital assets. Future expansions may include additional stablecoins based on market demand.
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The Road Ahead: A More Inclusive Financial System
Visa envisions a world where digital currencies coexist with traditional finance—offering greater access, speed, and resilience. By integrating stablecoins into its core treasury operations, Visa is not just experimenting with new technology; it's building the infrastructure for a more inclusive global economy.
As blockchain adoption accelerates and merchant preferences evolve, solutions like USDC settlements will become increasingly vital. For businesses operating across borders—especially in fast-growing digital sectors—these innovations mean faster cash flow, reduced overhead, and deeper integration into the global financial system.
With continued investment in blockchain partnerships, network diversification, and client-driven design, Visa is positioning itself at the forefront of the next era of payments.