Launching a targeted pilot on November 12, 2025, Visa introduced a USDC payout program that allows U.S. businesses to send near-instant cross-border payments to freelancers, creators, gig workers, and small enterprises by converting fiat-funded payouts into USD-backed stablecoins at initiation. The pilot uses Visa Direct as its rails, integrating stablecoin wallet capabilities with the company’s instant payment infrastructure to shorten settlement times, and aims to reduce delays caused by traditional banking hours, clearing cycles, and currency volatility. Businesses continue to fund payouts in fiat, while recipient wallets receive USDC immediately when transfers are initiated, enabling access to funds outside conventional banking windows. Participants must complete KYC and AML checks prior to receipt, aligning the program with regulatory expectations and mitigating illicit finance risks. This pilot was enabled in part by regulatory clarity from the Genius Act that established federal oversight and capital standards for stablecoin issuers. The pilot was announced publicly at Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.
Visa’s November 12, 2025 pilot converts fiat payouts to USDC for near-instant cross-border payouts to freelancers and small businesses.
The technical design routes fiat-to-stablecoin conversion at the moment of payment initiation, with transactions recorded on blockchain to enhance transparency and auditability, and recipients taking custody of USDC in compatible crypto wallets rather than traditional bank accounts or cards. The approach leverages Visa’s experience processing crypto and stablecoin transactions, which the company reports exceeded $140 billion since 2020, and builds on prior pre-funded liquidity testing conducted in September 2025. The pilot architecture allows participants to access funds at any time without dependency on local banking infrastructure, while Visa intends to expand support to additional U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins subject to regulatory developments and validation outcomes.
The program targets freelancers, creators, gig workers, and small businesses concentrated in cross-border payment flows, offering faster access to income, reduced cross-border fees through blockchain-based transfers, and a relatively stable store of value for recipients in jurisdictions with volatile local currencies. The initiative is positioned to promote financial inclusion by lowering reliance on complex banking relationships, and to meet demand within the creator economy where many prioritize prompt payouts. Caution is warranted regarding custody responsibilities, wallet security, and evolving regulatory regimes, since recipients must manage crypto asset risks and comply with local laws.
The pilot reflects Visa’s strategic effort to bridge fiat networks with blockchain technology, potentially setting interoperability standards for mainstream finance, and a broader rollout is targeted for the second half of 2026 following technical and regulatory validation.
