Visa is launching a pilot that allows businesses to send payments to content creators and freelancers directly in the stablecoin USDC. The option will be available on its Visa Direct instant money transfer service and will work for payments in 195 countries.
Visa is launching a pilot that allows businesses to send payments to content creators and freelancers directly in the stablecoin USDC. The option will be available on its Visa Direct instant money transfer service and will work for payments in 195 countries.
According to Bloomberg, the pilot uses USDC (a digital token pegged to the U.S. dollar). The idea is simple: the sender chooses not a card or bank account, but the recipient’s crypto wallet, and the funds arrive instantly. Visa explains that they want to give both senders and recipients more options: you can withdraw to a card, to a bank account, or receive as USDC.
The practical benefit is the speed and predictability of the amount. The stablecoin keeps its exchange rate at around $1 thanks to reserves in dollars and US government bonds, so the payout does not «jump» as it happens with volatile cryptocurrencies. For platforms like TikTok, Uber, or delivery services, this means simpler mass accruals: creators and performers can receive money immediately, without weekends and banking «windows».
Visa has already tested other scenarios with stablecoins. For example, pre-filling customer balances to speed up international transfers. Mastercard is also moving in this direction: large payment networks are cautiously adding «digital dollars» to their products, not abandoning cards and banking channels, but complementing them.
However, there are some nuances to the innovation. The recipient needs a compatible crypto wallet; in some countries, identity verification will be required. Converting USDC to local currency depends on available exchanges and their fees, and tax rules vary by jurisdiction. For Visa itself, the key issues are compliance with sanctions and anti-money laundering regulations.
If the pilot shows demand, the company could scale USDC payments to marketplaces, media platforms, and B2B payments. It’s essentially another fast «corridor» for small international payments, alongside card and bank transfers, but with the advantage of instantness and a stable dollar equivalent.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how in the first quarter of 2025, the number of Visa payment system cards in Ukraine increased by 5.62 million, or 8,8% — thus, for the first time in a long time, Visa surpassed Mastercard in this indicator.
