Visa launches a stablecoin payment pilot, supporting creators and freelancers to receive payments directly in USDC

Global payment giant Visa has officially launched a stablecoin payment pilot program, allowing creators, freelancers, and businesses to receive payments directly in USDC issued by Circle through Visa Direct, enabling cross-border instant settlement.

Visa stated that during the pilot phase, businesses can initiate payments in fiat currency in the U.S., while recipients can choose to receive USDC directly, with funds arriving in almost a few minutes. This will provide convenience for users in areas with currency fluctuations or limited bank access. Chris Newkirk, President of Visa's Business and Cash Flow Solutions, said, "The launch of stablecoin payments means truly achieving 'funds arriving in minutes,' allowing users worldwide to quickly and securely receive income."

It is reported that this pilot is a further expansion of Visa's stablecoin program. In September of this year, Visa conducted a "stablecoin pre-funding" pilot, allowing businesses to fund Visa Direct accounts using stablecoins, and this time it is the first to support end-users receiving payments directly in stablecoins. Recipients must have a stablecoin wallet that meets Visa standards and undergo KYC/AML certification. Visa stated that the plan will be promoted to more partners in the second half of 2026, currently only supporting USDC. Since 2020, Visa has facilitated over $140 billion in cryptocurrency and stablecoin transactions and launched more than 130 stablecoin-linked card programs in 40 countries.