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Visa Tests On-Chain Stablecoin Payouts for the Creator and Freelance Economy

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Visa Introduces Stablecoin Payout Pilot to Simplify Payments for Businesses and Digital Creators

Visa, the global payments technology company founded in 1958, has launched an innovative stablecoin payout pilot designed to streamline payments for businesses, digital creators, freelancers, and gig workers. This new initiative enables businesses to send USD-backed stablecoin payouts directly to digital wallets, aiming to make transactions faster, more flexible, and accessible across borders.

Announced at Web Summit, the pilot program allows businesses using Visa Direct to fund payouts in traditional fiat currency. Recipients then have the option to receive their payments in USD-backed stablecoins such as USDC. This approach is especially beneficial for workers in markets grappling with currency volatility or limited banking infrastructure, providing them with greater control and reliability over how they receive funds.

Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa, explained the vision behind the rollout:
“Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes, not days, for anyone, anywhere in the world. 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.”

Supporting the Growing Creator Economy

Visa’s 2025 Economy Report sheds light on the challenges and priorities faced by the burgeoning creator economy. The report found that 26% of creators experienced negative impacts on content production due to payment delays, underscoring how timing can directly influence productivity and revenue streams. Additionally, 30% of respondents expressed a desire for card features that provide faster access to their earned funds, while 57% identified instant access to funds as their primary motivation for adopting digital payment methods.

Expanding Stablecoin-Powered Payments with Visa Direct

Furthering its exploration into stablecoin-powered solutions, Visa Direct launched a pilot program at SIBOS in September. This program enables businesses to pre-fund payouts using stablecoins, thereby increasing financial accessibility for Visa’s corporate clients and consumers worldwide.

Visa’s Growing Crypto and Stablecoin Footprint

As part of its broader digital assets strategy, Visa recently announced the expansion of its settlement infrastructure to support four new stablecoins across four blockchains: Stellar (XLM), Avalanche (AVAX), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL).

Since 2020, Visa’s platform has processed over $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin flows, including $100 billion in digital asset purchases and $35 billion in on-chain spending via Visa credentials. The company currently supports leading stablecoins such as USDC and Circle’s euro-backed EURC. Visa operates more than 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across 40 countries, maintaining an annualized settlement run rate exceeding $2.5 billion.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Position

Visa’s expansion plans include partnerships with key stablecoin issuers like Paxos, which facilitated the integration of PayPal’s digital dollar token (PYUSD) into Visa’s ecosystem in July. These collaborations position Visa to capitalize on the growing demand for programmable money, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure.

The stablecoin market continues to mature, currently boasting a combined market capitalization of approximately $305.3 billion, despite a recent slight seven-day decline of $748 million. Tether (USDT) remains the dominant player, controlling over 60% of the total market.

With this stablecoin payout pilot and continued investments in digital asset infrastructure, Visa is demonstrating its commitment to enhancing global payment systems and supporting the evolving needs of businesses and creators worldwide.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/visa-tests-on-chain-stablecoin-payouts-for-the-creator-and-freelance-economy/

general

Liam Lawson under fire after latest claim by Mexico’s motorsport authority

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**Visa Cash App RB Driver Liam Lawson Has Close Call with Marshals at 2025 Mexico City GP**

Liam Lawson, the Visa Cash App Red Bull driver, experienced a frightening near-miss with track marshals shortly after exiting the pit lane during the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The race started with fierce action as Lawson had a strong launch off the line and was battling Carlos Sainz into Turn 1. However, the Spaniard failed to leave sufficient space and collided with Lawson’s car, causing significant damage to the Kiwi driver’s vehicle. This forced Lawson to pit for repairs early in the race.

The collision between Sainz and Lawson, combined with other incidents in Turn 1, left considerable debris scattered across the Turn 1, 2, and 3 section of the circuit. Consequently, the FIA stewards deployed double-waved yellow flags in this area to ensure the marshals could safely clear the track.

Despite these safety measures, a tense situation unfolded when Lawson rejoined the track at the end of Lap 2. As he approached Turn 1, he encountered several marshals still on track collecting debris. The Kiwi driver narrowly avoided a serious incident, but the close call led to an angry radio message from Lawson expressing his frustration about marshals being on the racing line.

Following the incident, Mexico’s motorsport federation OMDAI Sport Mexico issued a public statement sharply criticizing Lawson. The release stated:
“The images clearly show that driver Liam Lawson maintains the steering wheel angle of his car when taking Turn 1, without changing his trajectory, even though the track marshals were crossing the track to return to their post. This action occurs while personnel were still working in the area, which shows that the driver did not interrupt his line despite the obvious presence of marshals on the track.”

The FIA also commented publicly after the race, noting that the instructions to dispatch marshals had been rescinded once Lawson pitted. They confirmed that an investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

**Liam Lawson Speaks Out About the Incident**

After the race, Lawson spoke to the media about the dangerous situation, calling it unacceptable. During the race, he had already voiced his concerns over team radio, pointing out the severe risk of injury.

“I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I got to Turn 1 and there were two dudes just running across the track. And I nearly hit one of them. Honestly, it was so dangerous. Obviously, there’s been a miscommunication somewhere, but I’ve never experienced that before, I’ve only seen that in the past. It’s pretty unacceptable,” said Lawson.

Unfortunately, the damage sustained in the Lap 1 collision ultimately forced Lawson to retire from the race.

This incident has raised serious questions about track safety protocols and communication between race control and marshals during high-intensity moments on the circuit. The ongoing FIA investigation will likely provide further clarity on how such a dangerous situation unfolded and how it can be prevented in future events.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-liam-lawson-fire-latest-claim-mexico-s-motorsport-authority

racing, sports

McLaren driver Lando Norris branded an “Idiot” by Isack Hadjar

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**Isack Hadjar Slams Lando Norris During FP3 at 2025 Mexican GP**

Visa Cash App Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar expressed his frustration with McLaren’s Lando Norris during the FP3 session at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix. The incident occurred when Norris failed to yield space to Hadjar during a crucial hotlap.

Coming into the Mexican GP, Hadjar had endured a challenging run, failing to score points in the previous two races in the United States and Singapore. With the 2025 season winding down, the French-Algerian driver is eager to impress, especially as he is in contention for a promotion to the senior Red Bull team in 2026. The stakes are high for the young driver, making every session crucial.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the fifth-to-last race of the season. During the final practice session, approximately 20 minutes in, Hadjar launched a qualifying simulation on a fresh set of soft tires. As he approached the first corner in the stadium section—a notoriously slow and tight segment of the track—Hadjar encountered Norris positioned on the apex.

Forced to take a wider line, Hadjar’s hotlap was compromised by the obstruction. Frustrated, Hadjar did not hold back over the team radio, calling Norris “an idiot” for not providing sufficient space. “Mate, the McLaren was just in the middle of the track. Idiot!” he exclaimed.

Norris, meanwhile, was on a preparation lap ahead of starting his own flying lap shortly after Hadjar completed his. The nature of the tight corners in the stadium section makes it particularly difficult for drivers to give way without risking their own lap times. Norris would have had to leave the track’s racing line to yield, potentially ruining the start of his hotlap.

During Friday’s practice, Norris also discussed some of the challenges he faced with the McLaren MCL39. The team had enlisted Pato O’Ward to participate in the FP1 rookie session, with Norris taking over for FP2, where he impressively finished fourth, behind only Max Verstappen who led the timing sheets.

“It’s just holding us back a bit,” Norris commented after FP2. “Not that it was a bad day, but normally we’re very good on a Friday and everyone catches up on a Saturday. We’re already a bit behind, so we definitely have some work to do tonight. Single-lap stuff we are struggling with at the minute. We are working hard, trying everything we can, so we’ll see what we can do and find.”

Despite the earlier struggles, Norris managed to top the FP3 session heading into qualifying, signalling a promising start to the weekend for the McLaren driver.

The incident between Hadjar and Norris adds another layer of tension as the drivers battle for position not only on track but also within their respective teams ahead of one of the most critical stretches of the season.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-mclaren-driver-lando-norris-branded-idiot-isack-hadjar