Visa has announced a pilot scheme which will enable businesses and platforms to send payments directly to stablecoin wallets.

For businesses using Visa Direct, payouts can be funded in fiat currency, while recipients can choose to receive their funds in US dollar-backed stablecoins like USDC.

Visa Direct is a VisaNet processing capability that allows real-time funds to be delivered directly to financial accounts using card credentials.

Visa said the move will improve the speed and accessibility of global payouts, providing creators, freelancers, and marketplaces with a stable store of value and faster access to funds, even in markets facing currency volatility or limited banking infrastructure.

The pilot will launch with select partners, with the scheme being rolled out more widely in the second half of 2026.

According to Visa’s research, faster access to funds is ranked as the top reason digital content creators prefer using digital payment methods.

Some 57 per cent cited instant access as their leading motivation for choosing digital payment methods to get paid for content creation work.

Visa says that the new service offers increased transparency as every transaction is permanently logged on the blockchain.

The scheme will also provide access in underbanked regions or locations where bank accounts in US dollars are unavailable, it added.

"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 and 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."

Earlier this week, the Bank of England set out its proposed regulatory framework for sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins.

The central bank said the move marks a "significant step" in laying the groundwork for a future where new forms of digital money could be used for everyday payments alongside existing methods.

The proposals include a step away from previous plans to require stablecoins to be backed by no-interest deposits at the central bank.

In June, Visa announced it was expanding its stablecoin settlement solution to selected issuers and acquirers in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region.

The payment provider said the move will enable cross border transactions in US dollars through blockchain technology.

The company said at the time that the move would help to reduce settlement costs, enhance liquidity management, and will support 365 day settlements, including weekends and holidays.

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