Visa’s Bold Move: Every Institution Needs a Stablecoin Strategy
Stablecoins are no longer just a buzzword—they are becoming the backbone of modern finance. Visa is making waves in the stablecoin market, enhancing its settlement capabilities across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region to facilitate USD cross-border transactions via blockchain technology.
The Surge of Stablecoin Adoption
Visa’s analysis reveals a staggering $27 trillion in total transaction volume worldwide for stablecoins, encompassing 1.25 billion transactions in 2024 alone. This explosive growth paints a clear picture of a financial revolution on the horizon, one that companies can no longer afford to ignore.
Cost Reduction and Enhanced Liquidity
With this new initiative, Visa aims to lower settlement costs, improve liquidity management, and enable 365-day settlements, including weekends and holidays. This is a game-changer for businesses looking for efficiency in their financial operations.
Visa’s Pioneering Steps
In 2023, Visa took a landmark step, becoming one of the first major payment networks to settle transactions in stablecoin. The company piloted a program allowing clients to meet their settlement obligations using USDC. To date, Visa has successfully settled over $225 million in stablecoin volume across participating clients.
Strategic Investments
Visa is not just resting on its laurels. The company has aggressively invested in the stablecoin market, notably by taking a stake in BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure platform. They also partnered with Bridge, a Stripe-owned entity, to introduce stablecoin-linked cards, making it easier for people to access and use stablecoins. Read more about Visa’s investment in BVNK here.
Innovations for Fintech Developers
The forthcoming issuing product will assist fintech developers using Bridge to offer stablecoin-linked Visa cards to customers across multiple nations through a single API integration. This means cardholders can make everyday purchases from a stablecoin balance at any merchant that accepts Visa—revolutionizing the way we think about everyday spending.
Expert Insights
Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s SVP and head of product and solution for CEMEA, emphatically states, “In 2025, we believe that every institution that moves money will need a stablecoin strategy. As the payments ecosystem evolves with this powerful technology, Visa is positioned to guide our partners in navigating this transformation.”
Collaborating for a Financial Future
Adding to the momentum, Visa has teamed up with Yellow Card, a pan-African fintech, to explore stablecoin use cases across various markets. This partnership aims to streamline treasury operations and enhance liquidity management. Together, they plan to test integration opportunities with Visa Direct to expand cross-border payment options.
Chris Maurice, co-founder and CEO of Yellow Card, shares: “Together with Visa, we’re building a bridge between traditional finance and the future of money movement. We look forward to innovating solutions that transform how money moves—leading to more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solutions.”
Final Thoughts
As Visa steps confidently into the future, its strategic moves signal that stablecoins are not just a trend but a necessary strategy for financial institutions in the coming years. Will your organization be ready to adapt to the stablecoin revolution?
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