Visa has begun rolling out stable‑coin settlement in the United States, enabling its U.S. issuer and acquirer partners to settle transactions in Circle’s USDC stablecoin. The first U.S. partners—Cross River Bank and Lead Bank—are already processing payments in USDC, and Visa plans to add additional partners through 2026.
The move delivers faster, seven‑day settlement windows and improves treasury efficiency for banks, positioning Visa to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing stable‑coin market. By adding USDC settlement to its global network, Visa creates a new revenue stream and strengthens its competitive moat, reinforcing its strategy to evolve from a transaction facilitator into a full‑stack payments platform.
Visa’s monthly stable‑coin settlement volume surpassed a $3.5 billion annualized run rate as of November 30, 2025, and the company is a design partner for Circle’s new Arc blockchain, where it will operate a validator node. The rollout is part of a multi‑year strategy that began piloting stable‑coin settlements worldwide in 2021 and expanded support for additional blockchains and stablecoins in July 2025.
Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships, said that banking partners are actively preparing to use stable‑coin settlement, highlighting strong demand for a reliable, bank‑ready capability that improves treasury efficiency. Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Circle, called the U.S. stable‑coin settlement with Visa a “milestone for internet native money moving at the speed of software.”
The announcement fits into Visa’s broader stable‑coin strategy, which includes a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to guide institutions on stable‑coin strategy and implementation. Visa’s rival Mastercard is also exploring stable‑coin uses, and the regulatory framework established by the GENIUS Act is expected to accelerate adoption. The stable‑coin market’s total market capitalization exceeds $300 billion, underscoring the strategic importance of Visa’s early entry.
While no immediate market reaction data is available, the rollout signals Visa’s commitment to next‑generation settlement infrastructure and positions the company to capture a growing share of the digital‑currency settlement market, reinforcing its long‑term competitive advantage.
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