(16 December 2025 – Global) Visa has accelerated its stablecoin strategy by launching USDC settlement in the United States while also unveiling a dedicated stablecoins advisory practice in Europe, signalling a shift from experimentation to scaled adoption.
In the US, Visa now allows issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using Circle’s USDC, enabling faster, seven-day settlement over blockchain rails without altering the consumer card experience. Initial participants Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are settling via the Solana blockchain, with broader US availability planned through 2026. Visa says its monthly stablecoin settlement volumes have already exceeded a US$3.5 billion annualised run rate.
Rubail Birwadker, global head of growth products and strategic partnerships at Visa, said: “Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it – they’re preparing to use it. Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations.”
Alongside settlement, Visa is deepening its infrastructure commitments as a design partner for Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain developed by Circle, and plans to operate a validator node once the network goes live.
In parallel, Visa Consulting & Analytics has launched a stablecoins advisory practice for European banks, fintechs and merchants, responding to a market now exceeding US$250 billion in value. The service spans training, strategy design, use-case sizing, go-to-market planning and technology integration.
Claudio Di Nella, European head of Visa Consulting & Analytics, said: “Our new dedicated Advisory Practice is designed to bring practical insights and tailored recommendations for our clients to unlock growth and stay ahead, including the adoption and implementation of robust stablecoin and digital asset solutions.”
Together, the initiatives underline Visa’s intent to position stablecoins not as a niche innovation, but as bank-ready infrastructure embedded into global payments and treasury workflows.