Visa has joined forces with BVNK to add a stablecoin payout feature to its Visa Direct platform. This partnership enables pre-funded payments in stablecoins and facilitates immediate payments to digital wallets in selected global markets.
Visa confirmed that the integration enables instant settlement and is not limited to banking hours. As a result, companies using Visa Direct can disburse funds across countries more quickly while adhering to local regulatory requirements.
This development is part of Visa’s ongoing efforts to modernize its $1.7 trillion real-time payments network.
Exciting news: we're powering stablecoin payments for @Visa Direct
Starting this year with pilot programs, BVNK will provide stablecoin infrastructure for @VISADIRECT's $1.7 trillion real-time payments network, enabling faster, more flexible global money movement. pic.twitter.com/0SxgIRrhof
— BVNK (@BVNKFinance) January 14, 2026
Visa Expands Real-Time Payments Capabilities
Visa Direct already supports high-volume use cases such as payroll distribution, gig economy compensation, and cross-border remittances. The addition of stablecoins to the platform offers businesses an alternative method for settlement.
The system allows companies to pre-fund transactions using stablecoins before making payouts. These funds then settle immediately into backed digital wallets.
Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global head of product, highlighted the distinct advantages of using stablecoins for international payments. He stated that the technology helps to reduce friction and increase access to efficient digital payment tools.
Visa views this integration as a pragmatic step towards combining blockchain technology with its existing payment infrastructure. Nelsen commented, "Stablecoins are an exciting opportunity for global payments, with enormous potential to reduce friction and expand access to faster, more efficient payment options."
BVNK Powers Stablecoin Transfers
BVNK provides the underlying infrastructure for the stablecoin settlement process. The UK-based firm currently handles over $30 billion worth of stablecoin transactions annually. Through this partnership, BVNK manages the movement and settlement of stablecoins across supported markets.
Visa, in turn, connects this capability to its global payout network. Consequently, businesses can access blockchain settlement without the need to develop their own infrastructure for managing digital assets.
Visa initially invested in BVNK through its venture arm in May 2025. Five months later, Citigroup made a strategic investment in the company, further backing the stablecoin platform. These investments underscore the growing institutional support for blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
The companies confirmed that the rollout will commence in regions with a strong demand for digital asset payments, though specific markets for the initial phase were not disclosed. Visa indicated that expansion decisions will be guided by customer demand and business use cases.
Furthermore, the announcement stated that all transactions will continue to be subject to local compliance and regulatory requirements. Visa emphasized that this integration aligns with its existing risk and governance frameworks.
As a result, stablecoin payouts will adhere to the same standards applied across Visa’s extensive payment ecosystem. It is noteworthy that Visa reported its stablecoin settlement run rate had surpassed $3.5 billion per annum as of November 2025. In addition to the BVNK pilot, Visa has begun enabling U.S. banks to conduct transactions in USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin, over the Solana blockchain.