Visa introduced a significant new pilot at Web Summit that allows businesses using Visa Direct to send payouts directly to recipients’ stablecoin wallets, providing creators, freelancers, and gig workers with faster access to USD-backed digital dollars. The program represents a significant expansion of Visa’s money movement capabilities and reflects growing demand among global digital workers for quicker and more predictable payments.
Through the pilot, companies can continue to fund payouts in fiat currency, while recipients choose to receive their funds in USD-backed stablecoins, such as USDC. The initiative is designed to provide faster and more flexible access to funds, particularly in regions where banking infrastructure is limited or where currency volatility impacts income stability. Visa said that the ability to deliver value instantly in a globally recognized digital currency can help marketplaces, platforms, and cross-border workers operate more efficiently.
New research from the Monetized: Visa 2025 Creator Economy Report suggests that creators are increasingly prioritizing instant access to their earnings. The report notes that fifty-seven percent of creators ranked faster access to funds as the primary reason they prefer digital payment methods for content creation work.
The new stablecoin payouts pilot builds on Visa Direct’s recent stablecoin pre-funding program, which was introduced at SIBOS in September. Taken together, the initiatives modernize both the back-end funding process and the last-mile delivery of funds to end-users. Visa said the combined efforts expand financial access and increase flexibility for its clients and millions of users worldwide.
Visa outlined several advantages of the new program. Recipients can benefit from near-instant access to stablecoin payouts, enabling greater convenience for consumers, creators, and freelancers. Stablecoins also provide a consistent USD-pegged value that can be useful in underbanked regions or areas lacking access to USD-based bank accounts. Every transfer is recorded on blockchain infrastructure, creating added transparency and auditability. Visa plans to roll out the pilot with select partners initially, with broader availability expected in the second half of 2026 as client demand increases and regulatory frameworks develop.
Visa said the program is well-suited for global marketplaces, gig and creator platforms, fintechs, and businesses that need to send cross-border payouts to users with compatible stablecoin wallets and appropriate KYC and AML verification. The company confirmed that clients will continue to fund these payouts in traditional fiat currency. Visa is currently onboarding selected partners and encouraging interested companies to signal demand as the global expansion timeline approaches.
Visa stated that the new pilot continues its broader effort to link blockchain-based innovations with the security, reliability, and global reach of its established payments network. The company reiterated its mission to connect economies and increase access to modern payment systems across more than two hundred countries and territories.
KEY QUOTE:
“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, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, 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.”
Chris Newkirk, President, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, Visa
