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/