Visa expands stablecoin payments pilot to more networks

Visa said on April 29 it expanded its stablecoin settlement pilot to five more blockchains.

It brings support to nine networks as it tests using crypto tokens pegged to fiat currencies for cross-border payments.

The new networks are Coinbase’s Base, Polygon, Canton Network, Circle’s Arc, and Stripe-backed Tempo, joining Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, and Stellar.

Visa said the pilot has reached a US$7 billion annualized run rate and already supports USDC-linked card settlement in more than 50 countries.

🔗 Source: CoinDesk

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Implications, context, and why it matters.

Visa is building services meant to spur use among banks, fintechs, merchants, and other established finance companies.
In December 2025, Visa launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice through Visa Consulting & Analytics in Europe. The group helps banks, fintechs, merchants, and businesses build strategy and rollout plans. It also offers a course through Visa University 1.
Visa is also testing new products on this setup. Pilot Visa Direct programs let businesses send payouts straight to individuals’ stablecoin wallets, with creators and gig workers as the first focus 2.
The company is also putting money into the market. Visa Ventures invested in BVNK, a financial infrastructure provider for stablecoin payments. BVNK now supports stablecoin payments for Visa Direct in pilot programs 3.

Visa’s pilot gives regulated financial institutions a path to blockchain-based settlement gains. That helps make the technology more acceptable for corporate treasury work.
In the U.S., Cross River Bank and Lead Bank have begun settling with Visa in USDC on Solana. Visa said the wider rollout came from banking partners getting ready for faster, programmable settlement tied to existing treasury operations 4.
The effort also puts pressure on correspondent banking, where banks rely on partner banks abroad for cross-border transfers. Active correspondent banking relationships have fallen 40% since 2011, adding friction that Visa wants to reduce 5.
With USDC settlement, card issuers can move funds faster over blockchains and get seven-day availability across weekends and holidays, with no change to the consumer card experience 4.