Visa has unveiled a groundbreaking stablecoin payout pilot at Web Summit, enabling businesses to send payouts directly to recipients’ USDC wallets via Visa Direct. The move marks a major step toward faster, borderless payments for creators, freelancers, and global marketplaces.
SINGAPORE, 13 NOVEMBER 2025 – Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) has announced a major innovation at the Web Summit held in Lisbon: a new pilot program that allows businesses and platforms to send payouts directly to recipients’ stablecoin wallets. The initiative, powered by Visa Direct, enables payouts funded in fiat currency while allowing recipients to receive funds in USD-backed stablecoins such as USDC, providing a faster and more inclusive global payment experience.
The new feature aims to empower creators, freelancers, and online marketplaces with near-instant access to earnings, bypassing traditional banking delays and reducing dependency on local financial systems — especially in regions with volatile currencies or limited banking infrastructure.
“Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes – not days – for anyone, anywhere in the world,” said Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa. “Whether it’s a creator building a digital brand, a business reaching new global markets, or a freelancer working across borders, everyone benefits from faster, more flexible money movement.”
Visa’s announcement builds on its growing focus on blockchain-powered payments. The company’s previous pilot at SIBOS in September 2025 allowed businesses to pre-fund payouts using stablecoins. Together, these initiatives expand Visa Direct’s reach by combining blockchain transparency with Visa’s trusted global infrastructure.
According to Visa’s 2025 Creator Economy Report by Monetized, 57% of digital content creators identified instant access to funds as the top reason they prefer digital payment methods. The new stablecoin payout pilot directly addresses this need, aligning Visa’s payment innovation with the rapid growth of the global creator economy.
Visa Direct Stablecoin Payout Highlights:
- Instant access: Recipients receive funds in stablecoins almost instantly, bypassing banking hours and traditional transfer delays.
- Borderless payments: Stablecoins provide a USD-pegged value accessible to underbanked populations or users without USD bank accounts.
- Transparency and security: Each transaction is recorded on the blockchain, enhancing auditability and compliance.
- Expanded access: The pilot launches with select partners, with a broader rollout planned for the second half of 2026 as regulatory frameworks mature.
Initially available in the U.S., the pilot will cater to international businesses, marketplaces, and gig platforms that support stablecoin wallets and meet KYC/AML requirements. Businesses fund the payouts in fiat, while end-users receive stablecoins directly in their digital wallets.
As Visa continues onboarding partners, the global rollout of this feature is expected in 2026, underscoring the company’s commitment to bridging blockchain technology with its extensive global payments network.
