Visa Launches Pilot for Direct USDC Payouts to Enable Instant Global Payments

Visa Launches Pilot for Direct USDC Payouts to Power Instant Global Payments

Visa is stepping deeper into the world of blockchain finance, announcing a new pilot program that allows freelancers, creators, and gig workers worldwide to receive direct payouts in Circle’s USDC stablecoin.

Key Takeaways:

Visa has introduced a pilot program enabling direct payouts in USDC for freelancers, creators, and gig workers, facilitating nearly instant global payments.
The program focuses on emerging markets with limited access to banking, providing quicker, more stable, and transparent fund transfers.
This initiative is part of Visa’s ongoing commitment to blockchain finance, with the company processing over $140 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since 2020.

The goal of this new initiative is to make cross-border payments nearly instantaneous while decreasing reliance on traditional banking systems.

This announcement was made on Wednesday during the Web Summit in Lisbon. The pilot allows US businesses using Visa Direct to fund payouts in traditional fiat currency, with recipients having the option to receive their earnings in USDC.

Visa's Focus on Emerging Markets with Stablecoin Payouts

Visa emphasized that this payment method enables faster and more stable access to funds, especially in regions experiencing currency fluctuations or lacking adequate banking infrastructure.

“Launching stablecoin payouts is about ensuring universal access to money within minutes, rather than days, for anyone, anywhere in the world,” stated Chris Newkirk, Visa’s President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions.

For recipients to participate, they must have a compatible stablecoin wallet and complete know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance checks.

Currently, the pilot only supports USDC and involves select partners, with a broader launch anticipated in the latter half of 2026 as regulations continue to evolve.

This initiative builds on Visa’s September pilot, which allowed businesses to pre-fund payouts using stablecoins.

Together, these programs enhance Visa’s capabilities in stablecoin-based financial transactions, offering a swift and transparent alternative to traditional payment systems. Each payout is recorded on-chain, which aids in auditability and compliance.

Visa’s expansion into digital assets has accelerated throughout 2025. Since 2020, the company has processed more than $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions and recently teamed up with Stripe-owned Bridge to issue Visa cards linked to stablecoins.

Additionally, it launched the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform to assist banks in piloting stablecoin issuance and settlement.

According to Visa’s 2025 Creator Economy Report, 57% of digital content creators consider "instant access to funds" as their top priority in selecting digital payment methods, highlighting that stablecoins can effectively satisfy this need.

The pilot program underscores Visa’s increasing emphasis on blockchain innovation as part of its long-term strategy for financial transactions.

Western Union Joins the Stablecoin Market

Western Union is also making strides into the stablecoin space by planning to launch the US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) on the Solana blockchain by the first half of 2026.

This token, which will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, will enable users to move money globally with reduced fees and faster settlement times, thereby minimizing the need for traditional banking intermediaries and volatile currency conversions.

CEO Devin McGranahan described this initiative as a continuation of Western Union’s 175-year mission to simplify money transfers, now utilizing blockchain technology.

He mentioned that Solana was selected for its speed, scalability, and low-cost transactions, which are essential for the company’s high-volume remittance operations.

By using blockchain technology, Western Union aims to make remittance transactions nearly instantaneous and more transparent.