(30 September 2025 – Global) Visa is set to pilot a stablecoin pre-funding platform on its Visa Direct real-time payments network, aiming to modernise the way financial institutions move capital across borders.
The initiative will allow firms to pre-fund global payouts with stablecoins instead of fiat, providing faster liquidity access and more flexibility in managing cross-border flows. Visa will treat stablecoins as equivalent to cash, making funds immediately available for local currency payouts.
“Stablecoins just delivered a new funding unlock for businesses around the world. At Sibos, Visa announced a new pilot: stablecoin prefunding via Visa Direct. It’s a smarter way for businesses to fund global payouts, unlocking liquidity, reducing friction and modernizing treasury operations for the digital-first economy” commented Visa Chief Product and Strategy, Jack Forestell.
“Instead of tying up capital in advance, businesses will be able to prefund Visa Direct with stablecoins, which Visa treats like money in the bank. The result? Faster access to funds, greater flexibility and reduced exposure to currency volatility. This is more than a technology upgrade. It’s a meaningful step toward how we move money. It brings us closer to enabling real-time, borderless and programmable payments that align with the pace and possibilities of the rest of the digital world” Forestell added.
“Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long,” said Chris Newkirk, president of commercial & money movement solutions at Visa. “Visa Direct’s new stablecoins integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.”
The pilot is expected to enter limited availability by April 2026.